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UMNO Sabah has issued a firm warning to the Attorney General’s Chambers, stating it will not remain silent if an appeal is filed against the High Court ruling affirming Sabah’s constitutional right to 40 percent of net federal revenue collected from the state.
The party’s chief, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, said the court’s ruling should be honoured, not challenged, as it reinforces a right enshrined in Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution.
“UMNO Sabah welcomes the High Court’s decision, which clearly upholds Sabah’s right to 40 percent of federal net revenue as provided in the Constitution,” Bung Moktar said in a statement on Saturday. “This is a major victory for the people of Sabah, whose rights have been denied since 1974.”
He warned that any attempt to appeal the judgment would risk reigniting public anger and undermining state-federal cooperation.
“The Attorney General should respect the court’s decision and not reopen old wounds by pursuing an appeal. The focus now should be on implementing the ruling swiftly,” he said.
Bung Moktar added that if a legal challenge proceeds, UMNO Sabah will pressure its Members of Parliament to table a motion of protest in Parliament to demand the ruling be honoured without delay.
He also called for the immediate appointment of an independent assessor to determine the actual arrears owed to Sabah since 1974, ensuring that calculations and payments are carried out fairly and transparently in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“We are not asking for more than what has already been promised. This is not a gift — it is a constitutional obligation that must be fulfilled,” he said.
Bung also expressed gratitude to the Sabah Law Society (SLS) for filing the judicial review that led to Thursday’s ruling, describing their persistence as vital in asserting Sabah’s rights despite political pressure.
“The actions taken by SLS prove that the struggle to uphold Sabah’s rights cannot be compromised,” he said.
He further criticised the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government’s previous position in the Court of Appeal, where the State Attorney-General’s Office had argued that the 40 percent entitlement was merely an “aspiration” rather than a binding constitutional duty.
“It was deeply disappointing when state-appointed lawyers argued that the 40 percent entitlement was just a people’s aspiration, not a constitutional guarantee. Such statements, which contradict the spirit of MA63, have caused widespread anger in Sabah,” he said.
Although the argument was later withdrawn following public backlash, Bung Moktar said the episode exposed the fragility of the state’s efforts to defend its constitutional rights and highlighted the need for stronger leadership.
“Sabahans have waited long enough. Now is the time to unite and demand what was promised. The Federal Government must uphold this decision and begin proper negotiations with Sabah,” he added.
The High Court decision, delivered on Thursday, ordered the Federal and Sabah governments to initiate a review of the state’s revenue entitlement within 90 days. The judgment was in response to a judicial review filed by the Sabah Law Society in 2022, which sought to enforce a long-overdue review of federal revenue sharing with the state. - October 18, 2025