PM to address Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement

Draw of the crowd: Anwar waving as he receives a warm welcome from locals during a visit to Masjid Saidina Hamzah in Batu Caves, where he joined congregants for Friday prayers. — ART CHEN/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement is likely to be addressed today when the Prime Minister visits the state.

“I will be going to Sabah and the matter will be explained,” Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday after Friday prayers at Masjid Saidina Hamzah.

He was responding to Ga­­bun­gan Rakyat Sabah’s (GRS) secretary-­general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali’s statement that the la­test review of the revenue entitlement under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution must be carried out this year.

The issue involves ongoing negotiations between the federal and Sabah governments on the state’s entitlement to 40% of all revenue derived from the state under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

On Oct 17 last year, the High Court ordered the Federal Government to conduct a joint review with the state government within 90 days, and to reach an agreement within 180 days regarding the entitlement for the period from 1974 to 2021. The 180-day period ended on April 15.

Armizan had acknowledged Anwar’s commitment to the matter, although Sabah’s claim is still pending before the Court of Appeal.

He said GRS, working with the state government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, would continue to utilise all available avenues to pursue the entitlement.

Anwar will be in Sabah to officiate the state-level Kaamatan celebration, something he has done every year since becoming Prime Minister.

On another matter, Anwar said Malaysian politics should not be driven by sentiment, but instead guided by calmness, wisdom and a focus on safeguarding the welfare of the people amid growing global tensions.

He said the ongoing violence in Gaza, southern Lebanon and Iran continued to affect many, including Malaysians, but stressed that political leaders must remain rational and avoid the instability seen in some Western countries.

“The effects of this situation are being felt even in our region. Countries with strong economic records and peaceful conditions are still affected to some extent,” he said.

“That is why our politics should not be driven by sentiment.

“We must remain calm, exercise wisdom, and focus on safeguarding the welfare of the people, rather than behaving irrationally.”