KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor (pic) said the state is allowing court proceedings on its 40% revenue claim while pursuing payment.
Hajiji said the Kota Kinabalu High Court ordered a review and return of the 40% entitlement to Sabah. He said the federal government had the right to appeal that ruling.
Hajiji said the 40% payment remained important to Sabah. He said payment also depended on the federal government’s ability to pay.
“This is still under court process … there are matters still to be appealed, and there could be issues that they (federal) want to bring for appeal or the federal court so we must be fair,” said Hajiji.
“What’s important is that this 40% will be paid … I want the 40% too,” he said.
Hajiji said negotiations remained ongoing. He said opposition parties used the issue for political mileage.
“But I am sure the federal government, under the leadership of PMX (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), will pay,” he said
Hajiji said it would also have to depend on the federal government’s ability. He said Sabah must also think about national interests
Recently, Hajiji and the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government have faced criticism over the delayed delivery of the 40% court order, particularly after the State Legislative Assembly rejected a private member's motion to establish a binding framework for the state's 40% revenue entitlement.
