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THE Federal Government will initiate official technical discussions regarding Sabah’s special allocation of 40 per cent of state revenue today in Kota Kinabalu, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed.
Speaking at the Temu Anwar Harapan Urang Muda Sabah programme at the International Technology and Commercial Centre (ITCC) in Peampang, Sabah, Anwar said the meeting would involve the Treasury Secretary, Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, and Sabah’s State Secretary, Datuk Seri Safar Untong, to resolve outstanding technical matters under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), in line with Cabinet decisions.
“The Cabinet has discussed this several times, and we agreed that on Monday, the Treasury Secretary will travel to Kota Kinabalu. We will discuss technical matters concerning the 40 per cent with Sabah’s State Secretary. When? On Monday. We are serious,” Anwar said.
He emphasised that recent concerns raised by lawyers about the government appealing court rulings were misplaced.
“We have not appealed on the 40 per cent, because that is Sabah’s right. What else is there to politicise? Want to campaign? Campaign all you want, but do not twist the facts as was done previously when you were in power, yet failed to resolve the issue,” he added.
Anwar clarified that the federal appeal pertains solely to specific judicial reasoning, not Sabah’s revenue entitlement.
He explained that certain parts of the court ruling suggested previous administrations since 1974 had acted unconstitutionally, a characterization he said the current government wishes to correct without undermining past leaders.
“What we are appealing is not the 40 per cent entitlement. We are only challenging the part of the judgment stating that governments since 1974 violated constitutional principles.
“I do not want to be a Prime Minister who disrespects my predecessors, which is why I requested the Attorney-General to appeal to correct that specific portion,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that the federal administration remains fully committed to resolving Sabah’s fiscal rights with respect for Malaysia’s political history. He warned against using the issue as a campaign tool that could threaten national unity.
“We have clarified that the 40 per cent is Sabah’s right and we are not appealing it. We are only addressing technical aspects of the judgment.
“There is no need to demean past leaders who have also made significant contributions. Our focus is on resolving Sabah’s rights in an orderly and fair manner,” Anwar said.
The event in Kota Kinabalu also saw the presence of Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari. - November 17, 2025