Sabah needs solutions, not race for ‘Most Sabahan’ mantle

The Sabah government's prudent approach to negotiations is seen as a move to correct the weaknesses of the previous administrations.

I have never looked forward to that long road trip from Kota Kinabalu to my father’s hometown in Lahad Datu.

True, the 400km journey offers breathtaking panoramas, with the majestic silhouette of Mount Kinabalu in Kundasang—visible when the skies are clear—a sight to behold.

Yet beauty alone cannot mask the frustration of driving more than five hours on uneven roads riddled with potholes, a ride so jarring that travellers lament it feels like driving on the moon.

The worst conditions tend to be felt near the small town of Kinabatangan. A friend once advised me to take a break there to allow my car to “relax” before continuing along the “moon road”.

Then there is my mother’s village in Sook, where the most pressing concern is water supply—especially during festive seasons like Christmas, with so many sojourners returning home to celebrate with loved ones.

Returning home always reminds us of the past, but one recent experience—drawing water from a well when water pressure was low at Christmas two years ago—reminded me of how tough life is in Sabah.

In my younger years, there were no clean water pipes, so I would often have to help my grandfather, Jusit Rantai, fill barrels and containers with water from a nearby river.

Many things have changed since then, but much still needs to be done for the welfare of the people.

That was why I have always seen Sabah’s 40% grant claim as the solution that would allow the state to develop its infrastructure.

Indeed, the Sabah government, led by chief minister Hajiji Noor, has worked hard to secure a permanent solution to a promise that had been left broken for almost five decades previously.

To be fair, Putrajaya has also shown a commitment to resolving the issue, with negotiations that began on Nov 16 last year still ongoing.

Sabah and Sarawak affairs minister Mustapha Sakmud recently explained that both governments now have a clearer understanding of the basis of Sabah’s claims and the figures involved.

With the mandate of Sabahans in hand following state polls last year, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-led government is pushing hard, including by requesting immediate payment for undisputed components of the grant, even as negotiations on other aspects continue.

Sabah finance minister Masidi Manjun said there was no dispute as to the quantum collected as taxes by the customs department and under the Inland Revenue Board (IRB). For last year alone that component was worth RM4.69 billion.

It can therefore be concluded that, on the issue of the 40% claim, the state government stands in solidarity with the people of Sabah.

So why then was it necessary for Kapayan assemblyman Chin Tek Ming to propose a private motion calling for all elected representatives to show solidarity in pushing for payment on the 40% grant?

“This Kapayan assemblyman is simply playing politics,” said Hajiji.

Perhaps Chin wants to give the impression that his Warisan party is the “most Sabahan” of the lot, while indirectly criticising the state government for bowing to Putrajaya, which was clearly not the case.

Correcting Warisan’s mistake

Likewise, GRS deputy secretary-general Armizan Mohd Ali sees Chin’s action as nothing more than a political game to ensure Warisan is seen as pushing hard on the full implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

In fact, Armizan, a federal minister, hit hard, claiming Warisan was looking to paper over its own weaknesses when governing the state in 2019.

“In August 2019, the Warisan government said that it would not be proper for them to take the MA63 struggle against the federal government, including 40% grant claim, to the courts.

Today, however, they are looking to project the opposite image,” he said.

“Secondly, in an official letter to the finance ministry in October 2019 the then-state government agreed to a revision of the special grant payment under Article 112C of the Federal Constitution at only RM53.4 million,” Armizan said.

Finally, the GRS-led government’s choice of prudent negotiations with Putrajaya through proper channels can also be seen as an effort to correct the weaknesses of past administrations.

The issue of Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement is not just a figure on paper. For ordinary folk, it is directly tied to better roads, a more reliable water supply, accessible schools, and long-awaited development.

This struggle must not be reduced to a contest of who shouts the loudest or who deserves the “most Sabahan” mantle.

The only thing that should matter is ensuring that all benefits flow to the people of Sabah in a rational and constructive manner — without unnecessary confrontation.

The writer is the editor of FMT’s Malay News Desk.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.