Madius threatens Putrajaya over special grant for Sabah
Published on: Monday, October 30, 2023
By:
FMT, Ameer Fakhri
Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau says Putrajaya has until July to pay Sabah the special grant.
Kuala Lumpur: Sabah will consider re-filing its case to compel the federal government to pay the state a 40% net revenue special grant by July next year if Putrajaya fails to deliver, Wilfred Madius Tangau (PH-Tuaran) said.
“I need to remind you that we withdrew the lawsuit against the federal government because the expectation was that the special grant formula will be completed by July 2024.
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“If it is not, we will re-file. We have every reason and right to do so,” Tangau said, following the winding up speech by Sabah, Sarawak affairs and special functions minister Armizan Ali.
Armizan said Sabah should bear in mind Articles 112C and 112D(ii) of the Federal Constitution which states “… any review (of special grant) should take into account the state’s needs and the financial capacity of the federal government”.
The minister said the RM300 million special grant allocated to Sabah was only an interim solution, and a fixed formula had yet to be agreed upon by the federal and state governments.
“I welcome the decision of Tuaran and other colleagues. As a Sabahan, I advise that if you plan to take this matter to court, you must make sure you are going to win.
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“If you don’t win in court, it will diminish our bargaining power in claiming these rights and interests,” Armizan said.
Last year, 12 MPs filed a claim in the High Court demanding Sabah be paid a grant equivalent to 40% of federal revenue from the state.
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Their lawyer, Nelson Angang, cited Article 112C and Section 2(1) of Part IV of the Tenth Schedule of the constitution in their demand.
The 12 MPs comprise Christina Liew, Ewon Benedick, Frankie Poon, Tangau, Awang Hussaini Sahari, Chan Foong Hin, Phoong Jin Zhe, Jannie Lasimbang, Peto Galim, Tan Lee Fatt, Vivian Wong and Noorita Sual.
On Sept 20, Sabah Pakatan Harapan withdrew its suit, because the group said positive progress had been made in negotiations about the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and assurances had been given by the federal government.
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