KOTA KINABALU: The President of Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (ANAK NEGERI), Datuk Henrynus Amin, today issued a STRONG AND UNEQUIVOCAL REFUTATION of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent statement comparing Federal spending in Sabah (RM17 billion) with revenue collected (RM10 billion).
Henrynus asserts that the Prime Minister has “fundamentally confused the facts” regarding Sabah’s non-negotiable constitutional right to the 40% special grant.
He stressed that the 40% provision is a non-negotiable constitutional obligation, not a matter of discretionary fiscal policy, and MUST BE TREATED SEPARATELY from general Federal expenditure.
Speaking after launching the party manifesto and election machinery, Henrynus highlighted the fundamental and critical difference:
”The 40% Special Grant is a constitutional right enshrined under Article 112C and the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, rooted in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“This provision entitles Sabah to a grant equivalent to two-fifths (40%) of the net revenue derived by the Federation from the state.
“This is a LEGAL OBLIGATION and a founding term of the Federation. It is not mere policy or discretionary spending,” he stated.
”This is a LEGAL OBLIGATION and a founding term of the Federation. “It is not mere policy or discretionary spending,” he stated.
The RM17 Billion Figure Cited by the Prime Minister Represents the Federal Government’s ORDINARY EXPENDITURE on essential services in Sabah—funding for schools, hospitals, security (police/defence), and public infrastructure.
“This expenditure is a basic, UNIVERSAL DUTY owed by the Federal Government to all citizens in EVERY SINGLE STATE of the Federation. It is ENTIRELY SEPARATE and MUST NOT be used to offset Sabah’s specific constitutional entitlement to the 40% revenue return,” said Henrynus.
He maintained that the Federal Government’s focus must be on legal compliance with MA63, not fiscal policy.
“The 40% right is a SUPREME LAW GUARANTEE and CANNOT be altered or substituted by ordinary executive decisions or changes in fiscal policy,” he insisted.
He noted that Article 112D mandates a periodic review of this special grant, and the failure to conduct this review and pay the due amount constitutes a BREACH OF CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY, a point reinforced by recent High Court decisions.
Henrynus has CHALLENGED GRS to immediately and publicly REJECT the Prime Minister’s remarks on the 40% state financial rights, accusing both GRS and PH of secretly plotting to render the 40% Sabah entitlement “non-applicable”.
“The payment of the 40% revenue share is a matter of legal compliance with the MA63,” Datuk Henrynus concluded. “It is separate and distinct from the Federal Government’s budget allocation for general development in Sabah.
“We URGE the Prime Minister to acknowledge this clear constitutional mandate and treat the 40% special grant as the legal obligation it is, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ATTEMPT TO CONFUSE THE FACTS,” he said.
