By Daniel John Jambun, Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
KOTA KINABALU: Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) responds with serious concern to the statement by Hajiji Noor regarding Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement and the suggestion that payment depends on the Federal Government’s economic position.
We state clearly:
Sabah is not begging for assistance.
Sabah is demanding compliance.
1. THIS IS NOT FEDERAL “AID” — THIS IS SABAH’S MONEY
Let us be absolutely precise:
The 40% entitlement under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution is not a political donation from Putrajaya.
It is not a goodwill payment.
It is not a discretionary grant.
It is a constitutional obligation tied to revenue derived from Sabah.
The Federal Government already collected the revenue.
The issue now is whether the Federal Government intends to honour the Constitution.
2. STOP SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE FROM “ENTITLEMENT” TO “ASSISTANCE”
When Sabah leaders say payment depends on “economic conditions,” a dangerous political narrative is created.
It transforms:
money owed to Sabah
into
money Sabah must politely wait for.
That is unacceptable.
If the Federal Government collects billions from Sabah during strong economic periods, then Sabah’s constitutional entitlement cannot suddenly become “conditional” when payment is requested.
A constitutional obligation does not disappear because Putrajaya faces fiscal pressure.
3. THE HIGH COURT HAS ALREADY EXPOSED THE FAILURE
The High Court in 2025 already recognised that the failure to properly review and implement Sabah’s entitlement was unlawful.
Clear timelines were set.
Yet instead of enforcement and urgency, Sabahans continue hearing:
“negotiations”
“discussions”
“economic considerations”
“future reviews”
Enough.
Sabah has waited more than five decades.
4. SABAH MUST STOP NEGOTIATING FROM A POSITION OF WEAKNESS
The greatest danger now is political normalization.
Sabah leaders are slowly conditioning Sabahans to believe:
constitutional rights are negotiable
federal compliance depends on convenience
Sabah must remain patient indefinitely
This mentality is precisely why Sabah continues to lose leverage.
No other constitutional entitlement in Malaysia would be treated this casually if it involved Peninsular political interests.
5. SABAH’S POVERTY IS NOT NATURAL — IT IS STRUCTURAL
Despite enormous resource extraction from Sabah over decades:
rural districts remain underdeveloped
infrastructure gaps persist
water and electricity instability continue
poverty rates remain among the highest in Malaysia
Then Sabahans are told the Federal Government may not have enough money to honour Sabah’s entitlement?
This is not merely frustrating.
It is politically insulting.
BoPiMaFo therefore states firmly:
Sabah’s 40% entitlement is not a favour to be delayed according to political comfort.
It is a constitutional obligation long denied.
And Sabahans are no longer prepared to accept excuses disguised as diplomacy.
“Sabah contributes. Sabah is owed. Sabah must be paid.”
