By Daniel John Jambun, President Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS)
KOTA KINABALU: CAMOS views with serious concern — and outright suspicion — the sudden rush by GRS leaders to announce negotiations on Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement while the state government is still under caretaker status.
Let us be clear:
There is no legal, procedural, or practical reason why these negotiations cannot begin after the election, once a new Sabah Government with a fresh mandate is formed next month.
The only explanation for this caretaker-period “urgency” is blatant political mileage.
1. GRS Has No Mandate to Enter Major Long-Term Negotiations
The 40% entitlement is not a routine administrative file.
It is a decades-long fiscal framework involving billions in federal revenue.
Caretaker governments are explicitly expected to avoid making commitments that bind future administrations. Yet GRS appears eager to push ahead — not for Sabah’s benefit, but for their campaign narrative.
2. The New Government Will Be Formed Within Weeks — Why the Rush?
Sabahans have waited over 50 years for the restoration of this constitutional right.
If GRS were serious, they would have acted long ago.
Now, suddenly — during caretaker rule, right before the polls — they claim “urgency”?
GRS cannot fool Sabahans.
This is not urgency.
This is election season stuntwork.
3. Negotiations Now Risk Being Invalid, Reversed, or Challenged
Any negotiation held under caretaker status:
lacks democratic legitimacy
may be reversed by the incoming government
creates confusion and instability
delays real progress on the 40% entitlement
In other words, this rushed process may hurt Sabah more than help it.
4. Federal Officials Know This Is Political Optics, Not Substance
The negotiation will be “chaired” by bureaucrats and attended by others who fully understand that a caretaker government cannot finalize anything major.
This exercise is unlikely to bring real results — only headline value for GRS.
5. GRS Is Exploiting Sabah’s Constitutional Rights for Votes
Instead of respecting caretaker conventions, GRS is using Sabah’s 40% entitlement — a fundamental MA63 guarantee — as a campaign prop to portray themselves as protectors of Sabah rights.
This is a shameful attempt to mislead voters.
Sabahans deserve real negotiation, not political theatre.
Sabahans deserve results, not ribbon-cutting announcements during caretaker rule.
CAMOS’ Position
The 40% revenue negotiations must begin only after a new Sabah Government is properly formed.
This ensures:
legitimacy,
stability,
accountability, and
continuity of policy.
GRS must stop exploiting Sabah’s constitutional rights to gain temporary political mileage.
Sabahans are watching — and Sabahans are not fooled.
