KOTA KINABALU: The decision to allow the Federal Government to postpone the implementation of the review of 40 percent of Sabah’s revenue is seen as a significant blow and a ‘dark chapter’ in the history of the struggle for the rights of the state.
Tuaran Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Madius Tangau expressed his disappointment with this development, even labeling the Federal Government’s actions as a case of ‘talking the talk but not walking the walk’.
He reminded everyone of the open assurance previously given by the Prime Minister, stating that the Federal Government would not appeal any court decisions favoring Sabah regarding this claim.
“It is well known that the Prime Minister’s statement was clearly reported earlier, that we will not appeal the decision regarding 40 percent of Sabah’s revenue, it is final.
“Unfortunately, the reality in the courtroom starkly contrasts with the sweet promises made. The Attorney General representing the Federal Government has requested and successfully obtained a stay order.
“They said they would not appeal, yet in the end, they did appeal. Why is there a double standard between political statements made in front of the people of Sabah and legal actions in court?” he emphasised in a media statement today.
Further commenting, Madius described the delay in approving the judicial review as not just a postponement of legal processes, but another form of denial of the government’s long-overdue responsibilities.
“This matter was decided by the High Court of Kota Kinabalu to be paid by the Federal Government to Sabah after a negotiation period of 180 days, which is supposed to end on April 15.
“The right to 40 percent is an absolute right enshrined legally in Article 112C and Part IV of the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, and is in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he explained.
Therefore, the Honorary President of UPKO has urged the Federal Government to promptly withdraw any legal actions that impede the implementation of these rights.
“The people of Sabah today are sufficiently mature and can no longer be served mere political rhetoric. The betrayal of trust today will remain etched in memory.
“Sabah will not forget the dark history of today. This struggle has not and will not end here.
“And I want to remind you that on page 78 of the PH Manifesto ‘We Can’ for the 15th General Election, it is clearly stated, 𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗞𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗡 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶 𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗸𝘀𝘂𝗱𝗸𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗸 𝟰𝟬% 𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻gkan 𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝟭𝟭𝟮𝗖 𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗸𝘀𝘆𝗲𝗻 𝟮(𝟭) 𝗕𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗩 𝗝𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗵 𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗸𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗸, 𝗸𝗮𝗷𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗯𝘂𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶 𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗹𝘂𝗸 𝗱𝗶 𝗯𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗵 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝟭𝟭𝟮𝗗 𝗦𝗲𝗸𝘀𝘆𝗲𝗻 𝟯, 𝗶𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗽 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗻,” Madius emphasized further.
