Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Maximus Ongkili attributed this to the “cordial and sensible” discussions between the state and federal finance ministries recently.

He said the two ministries had briefed their respective Cabinets today on the outcome of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting on the review of annual grants under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.

Under the review, annual grants to Sabah would be increased five-fold, he said in a statement today.

The sum was more than twice the amount promised by the then Pakatan Harapan government to the Warisan-led government.

Congratulating both sides for the cordial and sensible exchange despite their occasional non-compromising stance, Ongkili, who is Kota Marudu MP, said he was proud of the Sabah government for its determination and hard work in getting what it deserved.

“It proves the capability and capacity of the GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) state government to defend Sabah’s rights and preserve good federal-state relations to ensure economic prosperity for Sabahans,” he said.

Ongkili, who was also at the meeting on Monday in Kota Kinabalu on behalf of the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MKMA63), said the new grant formula would be signed and officiated jointly by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and chief minister Hajiji Noor at the next MKMA63 meeting, scheduled for early next month.

The JCC meeting was chaired by finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz on the federal government side. State finance minister Masidi Manjun led the Sabah team.