By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 17: Sarawak rights activist Peter John Jaban has urged the Sarawak government to take decisive action following the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s landmark ruling affirming Sabah’s constitutional entitlement to 40 per cent of federal revenue, saying the judgment sets a precedent for Sarawak to demand its own fair financial share from Putrajaya.
Peter said that although the judgment concerns Sabah, it carries deep implications for Sarawak as both states share similar constitutional provisions under Article 112C of the Federal Constitution and the Tenth Schedule (Part V), which provide for special financial grants to be periodically reviewed between the federal and state governments.
“Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement is now reaffirmed by the court. Although Sarawak’s arrangement differs, it is based on the same constitutional foundation.
“This judgment provides a powerful precedent for Sarawak to demand its fair share and a proper financial review from Putrajaya,” he said in a statement last night.
He urged Sarawak’s leaders to show the same resolve as the Sabah Law Society (SLS), whose successful legal challenge against the federal government proved that ordinary citizens, not politicians, can bring about change when they stand up for their constitutional rights.
“The court’s decision exposes how Putrajaya has systematically failed to uphold its constitutional obligations toward Sabah and, by extension, Sarawak.
“For nearly half a century, both states have contributed immense wealth to the nation while receiving only a fraction in return. This imbalance must end,” he added.
Peter described the ruling as not just a legal triumph but a moral victory for the people of Sabah, reaffirming that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is not merely a slogan but a binding constitutional document that must be honoured in full.
He also congratulated the SLS for its “historic victory”, saying the success belongs to every Sabahan and should inspire Sarawakians to similarly demand justice, equity and respect within the federation.
He further called on the federal Attorney-General, as well as the federal and Sabah governments, to act in good faith and refrain from appealing the judgment.
“Any attempt to delay or deny this ruling would only deepen distrust and fuel the growing call for self-determination in both Borneo states,” he cautioned.
Yesterday (Oct 17), the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that the federal government had acted unlawfully by failing to honour Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement for nearly five decades.
Judge Celestina Stuel Galid declared that the arrangements made between the federal and Sabah governments were “unlawful, ultra vires and irrational”, rendering the Second and Third Review Orders invalid. — DayakDaily
