GRS Youth secretary Rafie Robert said the remark by Warisan deputy information chief Justin Wong showed the party’s failure to understand the actual process of securing the state’s constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Sabah’s Daily Express reported.
Rafie said the ruling coalition, led by chief minister Hajiji Noor, had taken a responsible approach through continued negotiations with Putrajaya while supporting the legal efforts of the Sabah Law Society.
He said the state government was focused on ensuring that the people benefit from the court decision, unlike what happened during Warisan’s two-year rule, which produced no tangible progress on the 40% entitlement issue.
According to Rafie, GRS was committed to pursuing Sabah’s rights with consistency and maturity, not populism. He also said the people wanted results, not political bickering.
On Friday, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that the federal government acted unlawfully by failing to honour Sabah’s 40% share of net federal revenue from the state for nearly five decades
The decision came following an application for a judicial review filed by SLS in 2022. The society contended that the federal government had breached the Federal Constitution by failing to conduct a mandatory revenue review every five years since 1974.
The revenue-sharing formula has been a contentious issue for decades. Sabah politicians had called for the federal government to honour the state’s entitlement, as agreed in 1963, to 40% of net revenue derived from the state.
Following the ruling, the Attorney-General’s Chambers said it would study the written judgment before taking any further action.
Stay united, PBS tells members ahead of polls
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has urged its members to remain united and not be distracted by politically motivated allegations against its leadership ahead of the state election on Nov 29.
PBS information chief Joniston Bangkuai said the recent bribery claims involving acting president Dr Joachim Gunsalam and deputy president Jahid Jahim were aimed at disrupting the party’s preparations for the polls, Daily Express reported.
He said both leaders had explained the matter and that the party’s members and supporters continue to stand firmly behind the leadership and its principles of honesty, accountability, and transparency.
Joniston, who is the Kiulu assemblyman, also said PBS remains focused on serving the people and upholding their trust through integrity and good governance under the GRS administration.