KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s 2026 surplus budget is a positive one that supports the state's development, says Paginatan assemblyman Datuk Rusdin Musidi Riman.
The sole Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) representative in the state assembly said, however, that development is still slow compared with Sarawak, which Sabah has always looked to as a benchmark.
"Therefore, the recent High Court decision mandating the Federal Government to review the 40% payment to Sabah is important because it strengthens Sabah’s claims on this entitlement and could help in the development of the state," he said when debating the budget in the state assembly on Tuesday (Dec 16).
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Rusdin supported calls to have the 40% revenue share included as a component of receivable revenues from Putrajaya to the state.
"Without strong fiscal growth, Sabah's development will be slow. We hope the subsequent negotiations will resolve the shortfall that we have (experienced) for so long.
"We are not asking for more, just what we deserve and what is (provided for in) the Federal Constitution," he said.
Rusdin commended the Finance Ministry for funding development and welfare programmes that can help the people's socio-economic development.
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Earlier, he also said that as the sole representative of his party, his election as an assemblyman was a huge responsibility.
"But I feel comfortable as well, because in Paginatan, I am ‘sandwiched’ between two deputy chief ministers, Kundasang (Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam) and Karanaan (Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun)," he said.
Under the state Budget 2026, total expenditure is estimated at RM6.402bil against projected revenue of RM6.430bil, resulting in a surplus of RM28mil, which Masidi said earlier reflected the state’s commitment to prudent spending management.
