SABAH Umno Liaison Committee Chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin also urged the Attorney-General’s Chambers not to appeal, saying this would only aggravate old wounds and undermine cooperation between the Federal and State governments.
“If the Attorney-General insists on pursuing the appeal, Umno Sabah will not remain silent. We will urge Umno MPs to table a motion of objection to the Prime Minister, demanding that the court’s decision be implemented immediately without further delay or excuses,” he said.
Umno Sabah also called for the immediate appointment of an independent assessor to determine the actual amount of arrears owed to Sabah since 1974.
This is to ensure that the calculation and payment is carried out fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the original spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Umno Sabah expressed appreciation to the Sabah Law Society (SLS) for its courage and perseverance in bringing this case to court despite facing political pressure.
“The SLS’s action demonstrates that the struggle to uphold Sabah’s rights cannot and must not be compromised.
“This struggle became complicated when Umno Sabah witnessed the intervention of the GRS Government through the State Attorney-General’s Chambers (SAG) at the Court of Appeal, an act that clearly contradicted the will of the people.
“It was deeply disappointing when the lawyer appointed by the State Government at that time argued that the 40 per cent entitlement was merely an ‘aspiration’ of the people and not a binding constitutional obligation. Such a statement, which runs counter to the spirit of MA63, sparked widespread anger among Sabahans and exposed the early failure of the state leadership to defend this right on principle.
“Although this argument was later withdrawn following public outcry, the incident must not be forgotten as a stark reminder of how fragile the defence of Sabah’s constitutional rights can be,” he said.
He said the people of Sabah had been patient long enough and the time had come to stand united in demanding what rightfully belongs to the State.
Sabah is not asking for more, we are simply demanding what was promised,” said Bung.
The Federal Government’s sincerity in honouring its commitments to Sabah will be tested following the High Court’s ruling, said Sabah Umno Information Chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir.
He said the implementation of Sabah’s right to 40pc of federal revenue derived from the state is not merely a political or technical issue but a symbol of justice and equality — the foundation of Sabahans’ confidence in the Malaysian federation.
“The High Court’s directive for the Federal Government to carry out a review within 90 days proves that the principles of federalism and the promises under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) remain alive within the legal framework,” said Suhaimi, who is also Libaran MP.
“This is a correction of history after nearly five decades of neglect, where Sabah’s revenue review has never been comprehensively carried out since 1974. It’s not just about percentages, but integrity and constitutional responsibility.”He urged Putrajaya to prove that the MA63 spirit was not just a slogan, but a genuine commitment translated into action through sincerity, transparency, and urgency.
Suhaimi also proposed several concrete steps, including a joint independent audit between the federal and state governments to determine the actual amount collected since 1974, regular reports to Parliament and the Sabah State Assembly, and the establishment of a permanent review mechanism to prevent future neglect.
“This decision is not the end of the struggle, but the beginning of correcting a long-standing historical imbalance. Sabah is not asking for more than what was promised — only that the Federal Government fulfils its constitutional obligation fairly and in the true spirit of partnership under MA63,” he said in a statement.
Suhaimi also expressed Umno Sabah’s respect and admiration for the Sabah Law Society’s courage in pursuing the case, saying their efforts reflected integrity, transparency, and sincerity in upholding federal justice.
“We record our highest appreciation and congratulations to SLS for their courage, perseverance, and dedication in fighting for Sabah’s rights with dignity and principle,” he said.