SHAH ALAM: Ensuring Sabah receives its rightful revenue entitlement will be a key pledge in Perikatan Nasional’s manifesto for the state election next year, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic).
The Perikatan chairman said Bersatu and the coalition have agreed to include the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) as part of their manifesto for the 17th state election due by Sept 2025.
"Sabah must receive a set amount of revenue as provided in the Federal Constitution. Bersatu and Perikatan have agreed on the matter, therefore it will be included in the manifesto for the Sabah election," he said during a press conference on Sunday (Dec 1).
Article 112D of the Constitution provides for a special grant of a 40% return of revenue from the state.
On Aug 7, the Sabah government said it will not bow down from pursuing its 40% revenue entitlement, despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s reiteration of the Federal Government’s "contributions" to the state.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the Federal Government’s RM16bil allocation as announced by Anwar during the Kaamatan Festival in May, was not part of the 40% revenue entitlement demanded by the state government.
Muhyiddin said Bersatu will review the proposal to increase the seat allocation in Sarawak.
"We will consider this proposal. While it is a good intention, we need to do this in phases according to the constituencies where we think we have a chance to contest and win in the upcoming election," he said.
On Saturday (Nov 30), a Bersatu Sarawak delegate, Ambrose Labang Anak Jamba, proposed a motion for the party leadership to consider allowing party members to contest for 12 state assembly seats in the Sarawak state election in 2026.
The delegate said the upcoming state election is timely for the party to contest, seeing that Bersatu is well received among Sarawakians.
On expanding the number of delegates from the associate wings, Muhyiddin said the party constitution can be amended to fulfil the proposal.
"Party wings have four delegates, but why does the associate have only one? I think we can amend the constitution at the supreme council level," he added.
