Respect Court Ruling, Strengthen Negotiations on Sabah’s Rights

7 April 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Former President of the Sabah Honorary Members Association of the Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department (RELA), Datuk Jerry Ambuting Mohd Said, has described the State Government’s decision to respect the Court of Appeal ruling on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement as a mature, prudent move grounded in the rule of law.

He said the firm stance taken by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor in respecting the court’s decision, despite disagreeing with the stay on the implementation of the High Court order, demonstrates the government’s commitment to defending Sabah’s rights through lawful channels.

“This approach reflects the maturity of the state leadership, which remains composed and guided by legal principles while continuing to pursue Sabah’s rights in a consistent and strategic manner,” he said in a statement today.

Jerry noted that the Court of Appeal’s decision to grant a stay of execution on the earlier order is purely procedural and does not affect the substance of Sabah’s claim, including the review of special grants for the so-called ‘Lost Years’.

He added that the Chief Minister’s clarification—that the stay merely maintains the status quo pending the hearing of the appeal—clearly indicates that the country’s legal framework remains intact and uncompromised.

In this regard, he expressed full support for continued negotiations between the State and Federal Governments, carried out in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill, to achieve a fair, comprehensive and constitutionally grounded resolution.

“These negotiations are crucial to ensuring that Sabah’s entitlement to 40 per cent of the Federal Government’s net revenue derived from the state can be realised in stages, without jeopardising relations between the State and Federal Governments,” he said.

At the same time, he described the Federal Government’s decision not to appeal the earlier High Court ruling, along with the Prime Minister’s assurance to respect it, as a positive development that should be fully leveraged in the negotiation process.

“This provides a strong foundation for Sabah to continue negotiations from a more assured position, in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Federal Constitution,” he said.

Jerry also urged all parties not to politicise the issue, noting that it concerns the state’s long-term interests and the well-being of its people.

“This is not a matter of partisan politics, but one involving the state’s rights, which must be addressed professionally, based on facts and within the framework of the law,” he said.

He expressed confidence that, with the State Government’s open approach and the Federal Government’s commitment, the best possible outcome can be achieved within the stipulated negotiation period, ultimately benefiting Sabah’s development and the welfare of its people.

Earlier, the Chief Minister reiterated that the State Government respects the Court of Appeal’s decision to grant a stay on the implementation of the High Court order, while affirming that negotiations will be intensified to reach an agreement within 180 days.