Sabah MPs, senators ready to back legal action if 40 pct revenue talks fail by April 15

KOTA KINABALU (March 4): Sabahan MPs and senators are prepared to back legal action if negotiations over the state’s 40 per cent constitutional revenue entitlement fail to yield results by April 15.

Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau said the MPs are united in their stand that should no agreement be reached by the 180-day deadline, they would support any court action deemed necessary by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) to ensure the implementation of Sabah’s constitutional rights.

He said the move reflects the seriousness of the matter and the collective resolve among Sabahan lawmakers to safeguard the state’s entitlement.

“We are very concerned about the slow pace of discussions and regret that, despite the significance of the court’s decision, engagements thus far have been limited,” said Madius, after initiating and chairing a town hall session and special briefing for Sabah MPs and senators on Sabah’s long-overdue 40 per cent net revenue entitlement.

The meeting was held in a meeting room in Parliament on Tuesday.

“It is also regrettable that the failure to reach agreement on whether certain federal revenues collected should be included or excluded is being attributed to the non-availability of data.

“At this stage, we are giving space for negotiations to conclude within the stipulated timeframe. However, if there is no agreement by April 15, we will stand behind any legal action initiated by SLS to secure the implementation of Sabah’s 40 per cent constitutional rights,” he stressed.

The meeting also reiterated the Sabah government’s demand for the federal government to withdraw its appeal.

It was noted that the memorandum of appeal filed by the Federal Attorney General encompasses the entire court judgment, except for the recognition of the 40 per cent constitutional right under Article 112C of the Federal Constitution.

Madius also called on both the federal and Sabah governments to intensify discussions, urging more frequent meetings over the remaining 44 days to resolve major outstanding disagreements and expedite the negotiation process.

“Sabahan MPs have voiced concern over the slow progress in negotiations between the federal government and the Sabah government following the High Court’s decision on Oct 17 last year regarding the state’s 40 per cent constitutional revenue entitlement.

“We were disappointed that 136 days after the ruling — more than four months — only three official meetings at the officers’ level had been held,” he said.

He stressed that time is of the essence, with the 180-day period following the High Court’s decision on Oct 17 last year nearing its end.

“With just 44 days remaining before the 180-day period ends on April 15, time is running short to reach a resolution,” he said.

Madius also urged both negotiating parties to increase the frequency of meetings to address major outstanding issues and speed up discussions.

In addition, he said the MPs called on the Sabah government to establish a federal revenue collection tracking system as a mechanism to identify, quantify, analyse, and store annual data beginning from 1974.

“They said such a system would strengthen the state’s position in ensuring transparency and accountability in revenue matters tied to its constitutional entitlement,” he said.

The two-hour session was well attended and included the SLS legal team.

Among those present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud; Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup; Deputy Chief Minister and Penampang MP Datuk Ewon Benedict; Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and Lahad Datu MP Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal; Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security and Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Chan Foong Hin; Senator Tan Sri Anifah Aman; Keningau MP Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan; Senator Datuk Nelson Anggang; Kudat MP Datuk Verdon Bahanda; Ranau MP Datuk Jonathan Yassin; Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah; Putatan MP Datuk Shahelmey Yahya; Kalabakan MP Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy; Sandakan MP Vivian Wong; Tenom MP Riduan Rubin; Senator Edward Linggu; former SLS president Datuk Roger Chin; SLS president Datuk Mohamed Nazim Maduarin; and the SLS legal team led by Jayen Marimuthu.

Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee left early to attend another meeting.