[Kota
Kinabalu 6 March 2026] – Kapayan Assemblyman Chin Tek Ming today
criticised the statement by Mustapha Sakmud expressing “surprise”
over the Federal Government’s move to seek a stay of the
implementation of the Kota Kinabalu High Court 40% revenue decision
concerning Sabah’s constitutional entitlement to 40% net revenue.
Chin said
the reaction by Mustapha raises serious questions about sincerity and
political accountability.
“As the
Sabah chief of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, whose party president is none
other than the current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, it is difficult
to understand why Mustapha needs to ‘seek clarification’ as if he
were an outsider,” Chin said.
“If
Mustapha is genuinely concerned about Sabah’s rights, it should
only take a simple phone call to his party president and Prime
Minister to find out why the Federal Government decided to file the
stay application.”
Chin urged
Mustapha to stop putting up what he described as “political
theatre” designed to mislead the public into believing that he is
actively defending Sabah’s constitutional rights.
“Sabahans
are not naïve. Expressions of surprise in the media do not translate
into genuine defence of Sabah’s rights,” he said.
Chin
further pointed out that the current situation must also be viewed in
light of the earlier decision by 12 Sabah State Assemblymen and
Members of Parliament to withdraw their originating summons relating
to the 40% revenue claim.
“If the
12 elected representatives had not withdrawn their originating
summons, the legal and constitutional landscape today could have been
very different,” he said.
“Their
decision to withdraw the action already demonstrated that they were
prepared to bow to the pressure of the Federal Government.”
Chin added
that the Federal Government’s latest move to seek a stay of the
High Court decision is deeply disappointing to Sabahans.
“This
move is akin to rubbing salt into the wound. It represents yet
another blow to the expectations of Sabahans who have long waited for
justice on the 40% revenue entitlement guaranteed under the Federal
Constitution.”
He also
criticised what he described as a misleading narrative previously put
forward by the Federal Government.
“The
first misleading statement came when the Federal Government attempted
to downplay its appeal by saying that it was only appealing against
certain portions of the court’s decision,” Chin said.
“With
respect, this is a distinction without a difference. An appeal,
whether against the entire decision or only part of it, is still an
appeal.”
“I
therefore urge the Federal Government to stop misleading Sabahans
with technical explanations intended to soften the political impact
of its legal actions.”
Chin
stressed that the issue of the 40% revenue is not a political
bargaining chip but a constitutional right that must be respected.
“This
matter concerns Sabah’s constitutional entitlement and the spirit
of the Malaysia Agreement. Sabahans deserve transparency, honesty,
and firm leadership — not political posturing.”
He called
on all Sabah leaders to stand firmly for Sabah’s rights and to
place the interests of the state above party loyalties.
“Sabahans
are watching closely. History will judge who truly stood up for Sabah
and who merely performed for the cameras.”
-END-
Prepared
by:
Chin
Tek Ming
N.25
Kapayan ADUN
6
March 2026
