PENAMPANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has made his own mark in history by announcing a twelvefold increase in the new special allocation for Sabah, raising it from RM125.6 million in 2022 to RM1.5 billion effective this year, a record that no previous national leader has achieved.
According to records, shortly after becoming Prime Minister nearly four years ago, Anwar initially raised the special allocation to RM300 million and then to RM600 million before increasing it to RM1.5 billion.
Last year, when announcing the Malaysian Budget 2026, Anwar also allocated the highest amount to Sabah, totaling RM6.9 billion.
The Prime Minister announced this eagerly awaited good news for millions of Sabahans while officiating the State-level Kaamatan Festival 2026 at Hongkod Koisaan, Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) here today.
Anwar stated that the interim special grant for Sabah has been raised to RM1.5 billion this year, compared to RM600 million previously.
He mentioned that this increase is a temporary measure while awaiting the implementation method for the 40 percent revenue claim from Sabah as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Anwar noted that this amount is only interim as discussions regarding the actual allocation based on the 40 percent revenue claim still need to be finalized through negotiations between the Federal and state governments.
“The issue of 40 percent (Sabah’s revenue) even though it is said to be a financial situation under Article 112D (the mechanism for reviewing Article 112D of the Federal Constitution), for me, is settled. Let no one question our decision to fulfill this promise.
“Whether it is done in June or December, that must be decided by both committees and then brought to the state government at the highest level and negotiations between the Federal and state governments,” he said.
