Kota Kinabalu: Kapayan Assemblyman Chin Tek Ming urged Sabahans not to be swayed by what he described as yet another round of federal promises regarding the State’s long-standing 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
Commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent statement that the Federal Government remains fully committed to implementing Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Chin said similar assurances had been made repeatedly over the past six decades without any real implementation.
“Sabahans have heard this script many times before. Every federal administration claims to be committed, yet the constitutional right of Sabah to receive 40pc of the net revenue derived from the state has never been fully honoured,” he said in a statement, Monday.
Chin said the 40pc entitlement is not a discretionary allocation or a development grant from the Federal Government, but rather a constitutional obligation owed to Sabah.
“If the Prime Minister is truly sincere when he says the decision is final, then there should be no reason for further delays, committees, or technical discussions. The Federal Government should implement the payment immediately,” he said.
Chin also criticised the State Government, accusing it of a lack of firmness in defending the State’s constitutional rights.
He said the state administration, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, had been “strangely passive” on one of the most crucial issues affecting Sabah’s financial future.
“Sabah does not need leaders who merely celebrate federal announcements. Sabah needs leaders who are prepared to firmly demand and secure what rightfully belongs to the people of this state.
“This is not about political parties. This is about justice for Sabah. This is about restoring the dignity and rights of our state within the Federation,” he said.
Chin reiterated that Parti Warisan had consistently maintained that Sabah’s rights under MA63 must be fully implemented and not subjected to prolonged negotiations.
“After more than 60 years since the formation of Malaysia, Sabah should no longer be waiting for the restoration of its own constitutional rights,” he said, emphasising that Sabah’s 40pv revenue entitlement must be implemented without further delay.