KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government’s RM1.5bil interim payment to Sabah falls short of the state’s 40% net revenue entitlement, says Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (pic).
The Sabah STAR president and former deputy chief minister said the payment announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Kaamatan launch was a start, not a settlement.
He said Sabah’s 2026 entitlement should amount anywhere from RM5bil to RM23bil.
He called for an independently verified revenue-tracking mechanism covering all revenue derived from Sabah.
He also urged payment of the full 40% entitlement, starting with no less than RM5bil for 2026.
He said Sabahans knew the difference between a payment and a settlement.
Kitingan said Sabah received RM26.7mil from 1974 to 2021, RM125.6mil in 2022, RM300mil in 2023, RM300mil in 2024, and RM600mil in 2025.
"The numbers are indeed rising, but they are still nowhere near the actual 40%," he said.
He also questioned the Federal Attorney General’s appeal of the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s October 2025 ruling.
"Who authorised that appeal? If the Prime Minister did not authorise it, he must say so clearly and instruct the AG to withdraw. If he did, then the RM1.5bil announcement rings hollow," he said.
