KOTA KINABALU : – Datuk James Ligunjang said Sabahans should not be under any illusions that the Federal Government will fulfill its constitutional obligation to pay Sabah the 40% revenue entitlement this year.
The former assemblyman for Petagas claimed that the Federal Government is aware that meeting Sabah’s constitutional rights on the 40% revenue entitlement, established in 1963, which could potentially amount to billions of ringgit, will impact its financial capacity to develop other parts of Malaya.
In a statement in the social media, Ligunjang said, “The Federal Government’s decision to appeal to the Federal Court to block the substantive hearing on the judicial review at the High Court, initiated by the Sabah Law Society, highlights its reluctance to address its financial obligations to Sabah over the past 50 years.”
Negotiations between the State Government and the Federal Government to finalize the 40% entitlement, which were expected to conclude last July, have been stalled due to a lack of cooperation from the Federal Ministry of Finance.
This includes a failure to provide transparent information on the actual income or revenue derived from Sabah currently and over the past 50 years by the Federal Government.
According to Ligunjang, these actions suggest a lack of sincerity and an attempt to prevent the Sabah Government from claiming its full financial entitlement as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“The possibility that the Federal Government might provide less than a billion ringgit for the 40% entitlement this year, citing poor financial health, is a reality that Sabah should be prepared for,” he said.
He further pointed out that to avoid fulfilling Sabah’s entitlement, Malayan parties have no choice but get involved in Sabah’s political process and potentially lead to control over the state administration and prevent Sabah from claiming their rights under MA63 and the Federal Constitution.
“Sabahans should be aware of the potential influence of Malayan parties in Sabah, which serve only the political and economic agendas of Malaya.”
“If these parties become involved in the state’s administration, the 40% revenue entitlement may never be realized,” he said
To preserve Sabah’s rights and its 40% revenue entitlement as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and MA63, ‘Sabahans should carefully consider their voting options in the coming state election, particularly with regard to Malayan parties.’
