Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today stressed the federal government’s commitment to “immediately” implementing Sabah’s 40% revenue claim.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said he had repeatedly affirmed in Parliament and Cabinet discussions that his administration would respect the state’s entitlement.
He said the issue was not just a political slogan, as some had claimed, and that the government was the first to take concrete steps towards implementation.
“I have stated in Cabinet and announced in Parliament that the federal government will honour this commitment and implement the 40% immediately,” he said in his speech during a meet-and-greet at the Bajau Samah Cultural Hall here.
Also present was caretaker chief minister Hajiji Noor, who is also chairman of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.
On Oct 17, the Kota Kinabalu High Court held that the government had acted unlawfully and beyond its constitutional powers in failing to fulfil Sabah’s rights to tax revenue for the years 1974 to 2021.
The court also declared the special grant arrangements made by both the federal and state governments “unlawful, ultra vires, and irrational”.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers later announced that the government would challenge “defects” in the grounds of judgment.
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