KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah Umno will pressure its Members of Parliament (MPs) to bring a memorandum of objection to the Prime Minister if the Federal Government decides to appeal the High Court decision granting Sabah the right to its 40% net revenue entitlement, said Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
The Sabah Umno chief welcomed the Friday court decision, stating that this is a long-overdue right of Sabahans that should be respected and fulfilled.
“This is a huge win for Sabah after our rights have been denied since 1974. Sabah has waited patiently for too long,” he said in a statement on Saturday (Oct 18).
“I urge the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) not to continue their intention to appeal this decision because such an appeal would only add to old wounds and affect state and federal relations,” Bung said.
He said if the AGC insisted on appealing, Sabah Umno would not keep quiet, and it would pressure its Umno MPs to object to the decision so that the Federal Government abides by the court ruling without any excuses.
He also called for an independent assessor to be appointed to calculate the exact amount of revenue owed since 1974.
This is so that the calculations and payments are done justly, transparently and in line with the original intention of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Bung said.
He thanked the Sabah Law Society (SLS) for its bravery and perseverance in bringing this case to the Court and fighting it out, despite the strong political pressures that came with it.
He said this shows that the fight for Sabah’s rights cannot be compromised, recalling how there was a hurdle to the claim when a former counsel representing the state argued that this 40% was just an aspiration instead of a legally binding federal obligation.
Sabah Umno Information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir said this decision is a test of sincerity for Putrajaya towards Sabah in carrying out its commitment to the state.
He said the implementation of this 40% net revenue collected from the state is not just a technical or political issue but a sign of justice and equality that forms the basis of Sabahans’ confidence in the Federal Government.
“The High Court’s order for the Federal Government to review this matter within 90 days proves that the principle of federalism and the promise in the MA63 is still alive in the legal system,” he said.
Suhaimi said this is also a chance to correct the wrong and neglect since 1974 because the 40% is not just about revenue but about integrity and the government’s responsibility to fulfil its federal obligations to the state.
“The real responsibility now is for the Federal Government to prove that the MA63 is not just a slogan but a commitment which needs to be translated into action,” he said.
He also proposed for an independent assessor to calculate the numbers, for a scheduled report to the Parliament and Assembly for accountability and transparency, as well as to set up a review mechanism so that the rights of Sabah would not be neglected or delayed in the future.
Suhaimi said this decision is not the end of a fight but a start towards historical correction.
“Sabah does not claim more than what it deserves; we only want the federal promise to be implemented and fulfilled in line with the MA63 spirit of partnership,” he stated.
He thanked and congratulated the SLS for this fight and hoped that such struggles will become an example for all parties, sending the message that the fight for justice does not need rhetoric but sincerity, persistence and courage to act.
