By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 22: Sarawak rights activist Peter John Jaban has warned that any move by the federal government to appeal the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s ruling affirming Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement could spark a political backlash from the Borneo states in the next general election.
Peter John cautioned the ruling coalition not to challenge the decision, stressing that the court’s affirmation of Sabah’s entitlement, enshrined under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution, represents a constitutional right, not a privilege.
“If the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) proceeds with an appeal, it will be seen as a betrayal of the government’s repeated promises to honour the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said in a statement today.
He urged the federal government to respect the court’s decision, describing it as a test of sincerity in implementing MA63 and upholding true federalism.
“Budget allocations are temporary and discretionary. The 40 per cent entitlement is a legal obligation. Sabah is not asking for charity. It is asking for restitution,” Peter John asserted.
The outspoken activist also called on Sabah Members of Parliament (MPs) to suspend or withdraw their support for the federal government should Putrajaya go ahead with the appeal.
“No leader should continue backing a government that fights in court to deny their people’s rights. True federalism is built on respect, not subservience,” he said.
He stressed that the struggle of Sabah and Sarawak is not an act of rebellion but a constitutional effort to restore equality within the federation.
At the same time, he criticised Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim for labelling Sabah leaders’ threats to quit the unity government over the issue as “political ransom,” saying the comment was both “insulting and dismissive.”
“Sabah’s leaders are not holding anyone hostage. They are standing up for a right clearly guaranteed under the Federal Constitution and MA63. To call that political ransom is to mock both justice and federal integrity.
“Labelling this as ‘political ransom’ only deepens distrust between Borneo and the peninsula. Justice for Sabah and Sarawak is justice for Malaysia,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that the recent Kota Kinabalu High Court decision on Sabah’s 40 per cent federal revenue entitlement has led to misleading interpretations suggesting that the federal government merely “siphons” the state’s revenue without contributing to its development.
Delivering a special explanatory statement in Parliament, Anwar said that the federal government respects the judicial process and will carefully review the High Court’s reasoning once the full judgment is received before taking further action on the advice of the Attorney General for the benefit and interest of Sabah and Malaysia as a whole.
Refuting the false allegations, Anwar affirmed that the Madani government has consistently demonstrated strong commitment to Sabah’s growth through increased allocations, infrastructure investment, and fiscal reform in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). — DayakDaily
