Chin: Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement must be honoured without further delay

21 April 2026

KOTA KINABALU: The time for negotiations over Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement has long passed, and what remains is the urgent need for implementation, said nominated assemblyman Datuk Roger Chin.

In a Facebook post today, Chin said Sabah had waited five decades for the fulfilment of its constitutional right, describing the prolonged delay as no longer a matter of process but of inaction.

“Fifty years is not patience. It is enough,” he said, stressing that the entitlement is clearly grounded in the Federal Constitution and not subject to discretion or goodwill.

He pointed out that a recent High Court decision had removed any ambiguity surrounding the issue, affirming that the payments owed to Sabah are a legal obligation. He added that previous interim payments had fallen short of what is required under the law.

Despite this, Chin noted that Sabah has yet to receive any payment following the court’s clarification.

He questioned continued calls for further negotiations, saying the issue was no longer technical in nature.

“If fifty years is not enough, then this is no longer negotiation. It is delay,” he said, adding that Sabahans are fully aware of the situation.

Chin proposed that the Federal Government begin by settling payments due from 2022 to 2025, noting that the necessary data is already available and calculations can be carried out without difficulty.

As an immediate measure, he suggested that Putrajaya could commence with payments for 2025 to demonstrate its commitment to implementing the court ruling.

He further outlined alternative approaches should fiscal constraints arise, including offsetting payments against federal loans owed by Sabah, resolving outstanding obligations between Sabah Electricity and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), or treating the matter as a running account pending final reconciliation.

“These are immediate steps that require no new allocations, only the will to act,” he said, calling for such measures to be announced publicly.

Chin emphasised that the issue now extends beyond financial settlement, touching on the broader question of constitutional integrity.

“Every day without movement sends the message that even when Sabah’s position is affirmed in law, implementation can still be deferred,” he said.

He described this as the “real injury”, noting that Sabah continues to wait despite legal clarity on its entitlement.

Chin also drew attention to Article 8 of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), saying the provision empowers Sabah to take necessary steps to give effect to the assurances upon which the Federation was formed.

He said the 2021 constitutional amendment recognising MA63 has strengthened the legal standing of such provisions, underscoring that implementation is integral to the constitutional framework.

“The entitlement is not new. The delay is not new, but the space for inaction is shrinking,” he said.

Chin added that the High Court judgment must be reflected in tangible action, urging the Federal Government to act without further delay.