KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans from across the political spectrum and civil society gathered at the Padang Merdeka here on Friday (April 10), to demand the federal government honour the state’s 40% revenue entitlement.
Politicians, activists, associations and members of the public attended the Justice4Sabah peaceful gathering, voicing the need for the funds to address Sabah’s longstanding poverty and infrastructure challenges.
Among those present were Sabah STAR president and Keningau MP Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s Ranau MP Datuk Jonathan Yassin, Upko honorary president and Tuaran MP Datuk Madius Tangau, Moyog assemblyman Datuk Donald Mojuntin and nominated assemblyman Datuk Roger Chin.
Chin, a state rights activist, said there should be no further delay in returning Sabah’s 40% entitlement, at least from 2022 onwards.
“Documents from 2022 are already available and the calculations should be straightforward,” he said.
He stressed that the entitlement was a constitutional right that must be fulfilled.
“A promise that lives only on paper is no promise at all,” he said, adding that Sabahans have waited more than 50 years.
“For far too long, Sabah has been told to wait, to be patient and to trust that one day it will come.”
Chin said a promise should not be deferred indefinitely, but delivered.
The gathering, which began at 5pm, followed the Court of Appeal’s decision to grant a stay on the Oct 17 Kota Kinabalu High Court ruling requiring a review of Sabah’s 40% net revenue entitlement.
Most speakers urged the federal government to continue negotiations and resolve outstanding payments from 1974 to 2021.
