BBC GRS - PH firm in their stand on the 40 percent demand

31 May 2024

KOTA KINABALU: BBC GRS-PH Sabah agree with and fully supports the decision of the State Government as emphasised by the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor that the constitutional rights of the State of Sabah will not be relinquished on this matter.

Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob as the Chairman of the BBC together with Members of the BBC Sabah State Legislative Assembly in a statement the claims made by certain parties that the State Government is not advocating for this 40% demand are completely unfounded and have been used as political leverage by certain parties.

According to him the State Government is on the right track in advocating for this demand from the Federal Government by engaging in a series of negotiations through the Technical Committee of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63) chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

"As a result, the Federal Government continues to address this issue, including increasing the interim allocation to the State Government to RM300 million in 2023 compared to only RM125.6 million in 2022," he said adding that the State Government also continues to fulfill the trust given in the 40% net revenue special allocation under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution.

"BBC GRS-PH Sabah is confident that the State Government will continue to advocate for this demand while also respecting the actions of other parties, including the Sabah Law Society (SLS), in advocating for the 40% demand through legal proceedings or anyone else with similar intentions as the GRS government's stance."

"With the cooperation and understanding of all parties regardless of political beliefs in this demand, we believe that there will be further positive developments in the demand for 40 percent Special Allocation of Net Revenue under this Federal Constitution," Yusof said.

"BBC GRS-PH Sabah as the elected Representative chosen by the people will always support the efforts of the State Government of Sabah to continue advocating for the demand of 40 percent special allocation of net revenue from the Federal Government."

He reiterated that BBC GRS-PH Sabah stands firm and requests the State Government to continue pursuing this 40 percent demand as stipulated in the Federal Constitution, and is confident in the ability of DSP Haji Hajiji Haji Noor as the Chief Minister of Sabah to carry out this task.

"Efforts by certain parties to divide the unity of the people must be eradicated. We stand behind the State Government's leadership in defending Sabah's 40 percent share as outlined in MA63."

BBC GRS-PH Sabah requests the Federal Government to continue paying attention to and fulfilling this demand, while at the same time strengthening the existing relationship between the State Government of Sabah and the Federal Government.