Kota Kinabalu: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah Chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud lauded Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for pioneering concrete steps towards resolving the long-standing implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), particularly in restoring Sabah’s financial and administrative rights.
Mustapha said the party appreciates the Prime Minister’s decision to respect the recent Kota Kinabalu High Court ruling on Sabah’s 40pc Special Grant, as well as his commitment to allow the legal process to conclude before making any further decision.
“This approach reflects the Madani Government’s adherence to the rule of law and its focus on making decisions that benefit both Sabah and Malaysia as a whole, not driven by political expediency,” he said in a statement, Thursday.
He noted that the current administration never sidelined Sabah but, instead, made significant progress in addressing long-neglected MA63 issues.
These include transferring management of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd to Sabah, empowering JKR, JPS and the Water Department to approve federal projects up to RM50 million and ensuring Sabah and Sarawak have permanent representation on the Inland Revenue Board.
“These measures not only restore rights enshrined under MA63 but also strengthen Sabah’s administrative autonomy to better serve its people,” he said.
Mustapha highlighted that one of the Madani Government’s most tangible achievements is the substantial increase in Sabah’s annual special grant, from RM26.7 million in 2018 to RM600 million in 2025, fully disbursed on Sept 10.
“This proves the Prime Minister’s sincerity in restoring fiscal justice for Sabah,” he said, adding that a new and fair formula for calculating the Special Grant is now being developed to ensure sustainable long-term benefits for the State.
He urged the incoming Sabah Government to take full responsibility for formulating and detailing the calculation method and payment mechanism for the 40pc entitlement through the MA63 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63).
“The Sabah Government must play an active role in ensuring that the formula truly reflects Sabah’s rights and economic realities, not just numbers on paper,” Mustapha said.
He also called for collaboration with state legal, economic and fiscal experts to guarantee accuracy and fairness.
He also emphasised the need for an efficient and transparent state administration to ensure the 40pc revenue share benefits the people directly.
“The funds must be strategically utilised to improve basic infrastructure, strengthen education and healthcare and create employment opportunities so that the people can truly feel the impact of this struggle in their daily lives,” he said.
Mustapha reaffirmed that under Anwar’s leadership, the Madani Government is not merely recognising MA63 in words but implementing its spirit through real action.
“PKR Sabah will continue to support these efforts to ensure justice, development and dignity for the people of Sabah under the Malaysia Madani framework, in line with the party’s constitution that upholds fair power-sharing between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.