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PARTI Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has called on the Federal Government to respect and implement the court ruling granting Sabah 40 per cent of its revenue, warning against any prolonged delays in payment.
Speaking after a Ramadan breaking of fast at Masjid Al-Muhajirin in Kampung Warisan on Friday, Shafie urged the state government to clarify its next steps following the Federal Government’s filing of a notice seeking to defer the court order.
"If we follow the constitution, it is clear that the Federal Government must repay, recover that money for Sabah," he told reporters.
The former Chief Minister made the remarks when asked to comment on documents revealed by Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, concerning the Federal Government’s action to file a notice to delay the 40 per cent payment.
Shafie emphasised that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the country, and any court decisions grounded in it should not face deferred enforcement.
"For instance, if someone is found guilty of a crime such as theft, murder, or drug-related offences, the sentence cannot be postponed.
Perhaps in this case it involves financial matters and the government needs to consider it carefully, but this should not be mixed with the normal provisions of the Federal Government," he said.
He added that facilities such as hospitals, police stations, and security provisions provided by the Federal Government should not be considered part of the 40 per cent payment to Sabah.
"Hospitals, police stations, security, and the military are the responsibility of the Federal Government. Other states such as Perlis, Terengganu, and the rest of the country receive the same. That is not the 40 per cent.
“That is why it is important to distinguish between federal responsibilities and Sabah’s constitutional rights," he explained.
Shafie also voiced concern over the taxes collected in Sabah, which he claimed reach nearly RM30 billion, with only around RM5 billion returned to the state.
"There are those who have been paying taxes for five to ten years even though they were promised it would be returned. That does not even include the 40 per cent of revenue collected," he added. - March 7, 2026