By Daniel John Jambun
President
Change Advocate Movement Sabah(CAMOS)
KOTA KINABALU: The Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) today welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement of RM6.9 billion for Sabah under the 2026 Federal Budget but stressed that this amount should not be seen as a handout or favour, but rather as Sabah’s rightful entitlement under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“We appreciate the recognition of Sabah’s development needs, but the people must not be deceived by big numbers without understanding the reality. This is not a gift from Putrajaya — it represents only a small fraction of what Sabah is owed financially under federal responsibility,” CAMOS said in a statement.
CAMOS pointed out that while RM6.9 billion may appear significant, the real issue lies in implementation and transparency. Many development projects under the GRS government have previously suffered from delays, leakages, and weak public oversight.
“Every cent must be accounted for transparently. We demand quarterly progress reports detailing which projects have been completed, who the contractors are, and what the actual costs are. Sabahans will only believe this RM6.9 billion allocation if the full amount is channelled into the state coffers by January 2026. Sabah must no longer be treated as a ‘funding pool’ for political cronies,” the statement added.
CAMOS further emphasised that this allocation must not be used as an excuse to delay Sabah’s constitutional claim to 40% of net federal revenue, currently being pursued under MA63.
“We must not confuse development aid with state revenue rights. They are entirely different. The RM6.9 billion comes from the annual budget — but the 40% revenue entitlement is a constitutional right that remains unfulfilled,” it said.
According to CAMOS, the GRS government’s constant rhetoric about maintaining “good relations with the Federal Government” has become increasingly hollow, as ordinary Sabahans continue to see little tangible improvement at the grassroots level.
“After four years under GRS rule, rural poverty remains high, roads are still in poor condition, and water supply issues persist. The people have every right to ask — where has all the money gone?” CAMOS questioned.
The organisation asserted that what Sabah truly needs is not just large allocations from Kuala Lumpur, but the power to manage its own finances, full autonomy in project implementation, and an independent monitoring body to prevent leakages and abuse of power.
“Sabah must be treated as an equal partner to the Federal Government — not merely a recipient of funds. This is the true spirit of MA63, and it must be reflected in policies and actions, not just speeches,” CAMOS stressed.
