By Peter John Jaban, Sarawak Rights Activist
KUCHING: Sarawak rights activist Peter John Jaban has called on the Sarawak government to take seriously the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s landmark judgment reaffirming Sabah’s constitutional entitlement to 40 per cent of federal revenue, as guaranteed under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution.
Peter said that while the judgment directly concerns Sabah, it carries deep implications for Sarawak, which also enjoys constitutional provisions under *Article 112C and the Tenth Schedule (Part V) of the Federal Constitution* for special financial grants to be reviewed through negotiations between the federal and state governments.
Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement is now reaffirmed by the court. Although Sarawak’s arrangement differs, it is based on the same constitutional foundation. This judgment provides a powerful precedent for Sarawak to demand its fair share and a proper financial review from Putrajaya,” he said.
Peter urged Sarawak’s leaders to show the same courage as the Sabah Law Society (SLS), whose successful legal challenge demonstrated that the people not politicians can make change happen when they stand up for their constitutional rights.
Sabah has spoken through the court. Now it is Sarawak’s turn to act,” he said. “The court’s decision exposes how Putrajaya has systematically failed to uphold its constitutional obligations toward Sabah and, by extension, Sarawak. For nearly half a century, both states have contributed immense wealth to the nation while receiving only a fraction in return. This imbalance must end.
Peter described the ruling as not merely a legal victory, but a moral triumph for the people of Sabah, proving that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is not a slogan, but a binding constitutional document that must be honoured in full.
He congratulated the Sabah Law Society for its historic victory against the federal government, saying their success belongs to every Sabahan and should serve as inspiration for Sarawakians. The victory of SLS should inspire every Sarawakian to demand justice, equity, and respect within this federation,” he added.
Peter also urged the federal Attorney-General, as well as the federal and Sabah governments, to act in good faith and refrain from appealing the judgment. “Any attempt to delay or deny this ruling would only deepen distrust and fuel the growing call for self-determination in both Borneo states,” he warned.
Earlier today, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that the federal government had acted unlawfully by failing to honour Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue share for nearly five decades. Judge Celestina Stuel Galid declared that the grant arrangements made by both governments were “unlawful, ultra vires and irrational”, and that the Second and Third Review Orders were invalid.
Peter concluded by urging Sarawak’s government to initiate legal or political action to reclaim what rightfully belongs to the state, saying that constitutional rights mean little without political will to enforce them.
