KOTA KINABALU: The call for a 20 per cent oil royalty is not outdated, and instead it remains a just and relevant demand, said former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
He asserted that the demand represented the original voice of the people of Sabah.
“Not long ago, the people of Sabah spoke with one voice in calling for the oil royalty to be increased from 5% to 20%.
“It became a symbol of the aspiration for a fairer share of our own resources.
“Today, the focus has shifted to the 40% net revenue return, as stated in the Federal Constitution,” he said in his latest Facebook post.
However, Salleh said the reality is that its implementation remains unclear and is often debated from various legal and technical perspectives.
In comparison, he said the oil royalty demand is more straightforward.
“It does not require complex interpretations – just mutual political will and understanding between the state and federal governments,” he added.
Salleh, who is the Usukan assemblyman, said efforts to involve Sabah in downstream oil and gas activities are a welcome step towards industrial participation and local empowerment.
“However, such involvement should not be seen as a replacement for the 20% royalty demand. Royalty refers to direct revenue from resource extraction — a matter of entitlement, not merely economic collaboration,” he said.
