KOTA KINABALU: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Presidential Council has reaffirmed that Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement from the Federal Government is a constitutional right that must be upheld and respected.
Following its meeting at Seri Gaya today, the Council noted the High Court’s 17 October 2025 decision affirming Sabah’s constitutional entitlement to the 40% special grant for the years 1974 to 2021, and the court’s written judgment delivered earlier today.
“This is not merely a legal issue, but a matter of constitutional honour. Article 112C and Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, together with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), form the foundation of Sabah’s inclusion in Malaysia. The judgment simply enforces what has long been agreed upon,” the Council said in a statement.
GRS urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Federal Government not to appeal the ruling, noting that the court did not impose any financial penalty but merely directed a constitutional review to be carried out as stipulated under the Federal Constitution.
“To appeal would be to oppose the negotiation process itself, not the outcome,” the statement added.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Haji Noor has directed the State Ministry of Finance, the Sabah Economic Planning Unit (EPU), and the State Attorney-General’s Chambers to study the judgment in detail and prepare for engagement with the Federal Government to finalise an agreement in accordance with the court’s order.
“For too long, ordinary Sabahans — from Pitas to Pensiangan — have lived with power outages, poor roads, and understaffed clinics. These are not mere statistics but real consequences of decades of inequity,” the statement said.
The Council also reaffirmed Sabah’s commitment to maintaining a constructive and respectful relationship with Putrajaya under Prime Minister Anwar’s leadership
“Sabah stands firm in its support for the Prime Minister, whose inclusive and open approach has strengthened national unity and elevated Malaysia’s global standing. Through his administration’s commitment, the GRS government has successfully secured 13 of the 29 MA63 claims from the Federal Government,” it added.-pr/BNN
