Kota Kinabalu: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) Tanjung Aru Division Chief Hiew Choon Yu has criticised the Federal Government over what he called “confusion” regarding Sabah’s 40 per cent net tax revenue entitlement.
Hiew’s remarks came after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was publicly questioned on the matter during his recent walkabout at Gaya Street.
“The Prime Minister’s claim of allocating RM17 billion to Sabah is only for Federal agency project expenses. Any unspent portion of this allocation will be reclaimed by the Federal Government.
“This is absolutely not the 40 per cent net revenue that Sabah is legally entitled to under the law. Allocations are no substitute for our revenue share,” Hiew said in a statement.
He said the 40 per cent net tax revenue is a statutory right of the Sabah people under the Federal Constitution and must be fully honoured by the central government.
Hiew criticised attempts by the Federal Government to conflate ordinary allocations with constitutionally-guaranteed revenue, saying it undermines Sabahans’ rights and the spirit of the Constitution.
“The Anwar government must disclose publicly: how much net tax revenue has Sabah contributed? What is the calculation formula for the 40 per cent? The public has the right to know every single cent of our entitlement,” he said.
Hiew warned that continued delays or attempts to obscure Sabah’s entitlement through allocations would only fuel public discontent.
“The people of Sabah are not asking for charity; we are demanding the return of our legal rights,” he said.
He also highlighted that clarifying the distinction between the 40 per cent net tax revenue and federal allocations is not only a matter of financial transparency but also one of constitutional integrity, state rights and public trust in the federation.
Hiew urged the Federal Government to immediately disclose Sabah’s net tax revenue contribution, explain the calculation formula, and ensure the legally mandated 40 per cent is returned to the state.