Kuala Lumpur: Ranau Member of Parliament Datuk Jonathan Yasin urged the Federal Government to honour the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s decision regarding the claim of 40 percent of Sabah’s revenue that the Federal Government must return to Sabah. He urged that it not appeal the matter.
Speaking during the policy-level debate on the Supply Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat, he said the Federal Government has not been transparent in managing its finances.
“On October 17, 2025, the Sabah Law Society (SLS) won a case in the Kota Kinabalu High Court regarding the claim of 40 percent of Sabah’s revenue that the federal government must return to Sabah.
“The struggle of the SLS to defend the interests of the people of Sabah is very commendable and must be remembered and appreciated by all Sabahans.
The Kota Kinabalu High Court judgment on Oct. 17 ruled, among others, that the federal government had breached its constitutional obligations under Article 112D (1), (3) and (4) for failing to conduct a second review of the Sabah special grant or grant in 1994 together with the Sabah government.
The review, he said, was not an option but a duty or application under the constitution to ensure Sabah’s financial rights to develop in line with times.
Jonathan said the failure or omission to conduct the review was a clear violation of Article 112D.
He added that the court also confirmed that Sabah under Article 112 C read together with Section 2 (1) of Part 4 of the 10th Schedule still remained with 40 percent of the net revenue obtained by the Federal Government from Sabah.
“I have examined the answers or responses from government leaders or those outside the government regarding the decision.
“Among them, the government stated that the expenditure given to Sabah, for example in 2025 and 2026 of around RM14 billion is more than the revenue collected in 2022, 2023 and 2024 which is only around RM10 billion.
“In short, what is being said is that the Federal Government has given more to Sabah. So the revenue obtained from Sabah is less, but what has been given to Sabah is already so much, even billions more,” he said.
Jonathan believed the statement was an excuse to delay the 40 per cent claim.
“The fact is that the amount of revenue obtained by the Federal Government and statutory agencies, companies with Malayan interests in Sabah, is actually larger than what is returned to Sabah,” he said.
He cited Petronas whose income is in the billions to the point that Petronas is listed in the world’s 500 most valuable brands, worth US$14.4 billion.
“Is this income included in the country’s financial system? No. What is included is only small taxes. But the billions of RM that Petronas has transported are used by the federal government.
“So in fact, Sabah’s wealth has been transported. The one who controls Petronas is the Federal Government.” He said the people of Sabah may go to the International Court of Justice to review the agreement establishing Malaysia if they continue to be treated unfairly.
