[KOTA
KINABALU, 5 May 2026]
Kapayan assemblyman Chin Tek Ming has defended Warisan’s position
on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement, while criticising the
state government for rejecting his private motion in the State
Legislative Assembly.
Responding
to a statement by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Deputy
Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Chin said Warisan had
consistently supported the judicial review initiated by the Sabah Law
Society (SLS), adding that such support was evident throughout court
proceedings.
“Perhaps
Armizan is unaware, as he was never present during the hearings. He
may wish to verify this with the appointed assemblyman who represents
the government’s position on the 40 per cent issue” Chin said in
a statement today.
Chin
also dismissed claims that Warisan had erred by referring to a figure
of RM53.4 million, stressing that Datuk Mohd Azis Jaman has then
emphasised that the sum of RM53.4 million constituted merely an
interim payment made on a ‘without prejudice’ basis pursuant to
Article 112C of the Federal Constitution. It did not represent a
settlement or discharge of Sabah’s 40% constitutional entitlement,
but was instead a temporary measure to address the State’s
immediate fiscal needs without compromising or relinquishing its
constitutional claim.
“To
reduce the 40 per cent issue to a single figure is misleading.
Special grants and constitutional revenue rights are two distinct
mechanisms,” he said, reiterating that Warisan’s stance has
always been to pursue Sabah’s full entitlement through legal and
institutional channels.
“It
is profoundly troubling that a Sabah origin federal minister,
entrusted with upholding the constitution, has demonstrated a
fundamental misunderstanding of its provisions and has elected to
issue statements that are misleading and bear the hallmarks of
defamation. Such conduct raises serious questions of the standard of
his constitutional responsibility and intellect” Chin commented.
“It
is equally troubling that while Warisan accepted the special grant
without compromising Sabah’s constitutional entitlement, the
present GRS administration has, in contrast, opted to endlessly
negotiate the amount with the federal government over the 40%
entitlement, notwithstanding that the issue is already subject to a
binding court order. Such an approach raises serious questions as to
the state government’s commitment to the enforcement of its
constitutional rights.” Chin added.
The
opposition lawmaker then turned his attention to the rejection of his
private motion, describing it as a missed opportunity to break the
longstanding deadlock over the issue.
“The
key question remains unanswered and dizzy despite a long statement by
Armizan, why was the 40 per cent motion rejected?” he asked.
Chin
said his motion was designed as a strategic step to move the matter
forward by separating historical claims from current entitlements and
focusing on the period between 2022 and 2025.
He
added that the motion also called for transparency in the actual
revenue collected from Sabah by the Federal Government, arguing that
accurate calculations of the 40 per cent entitlement would not be
possible without full disclosure of such data.
“Without
real figures, how can the entitlement be properly determined?” he
said.
Chin
criticised the state government for “hiding behind the Speaker”
and avoiding open debate, arguing that the refusal to allow the
motion to be tabled and voted on reflected an unwillingness to have
its position formally recorded in the assembly.
He
further stressed that the motion was not symbolic, but aimed at
establishing a practical direction by focusing on current revenue,
demanding data transparency, and avoiding prolonged reliance on
unresolved legacy claims.
According
to Chin, Sabah risks remaining trapped in a cycle of indefinite
negotiations and delayed court processes without a clear timeline if
such measures are not taken.
He
also questioned the government’s reliance on ongoing court
proceedings as evidence of progress, noting that the cases remain
subject to appeals and delays, with no certainty as to when a
resolution or actual payment would be achieved.
On
claims of progress highlighted by the government, including figures
such as RM3 billion, Chin said these represented interim arrangements
rather than Sabah’s full constitutional entitlement.
“An
interim grant is a negotiated, temporary amount. The 40 per cent
entitlement is a constitutional right based on actual revenue
collected from Sabah. The difference is substantial,” he said.
Chin
rejected allegations that his motion was politically motivated,
stating that the role of the opposition was not only to criticise but
also to propose solutions.
“This
motion is about accelerating the claim, enhancing transparency, and
ensuring accountability. If that is seen as politics, then
accountability itself is being treated as a threat,” he added.
He
also described continued attempts to blame Warisan over decisions
made in 2019 as a distraction, pointing out that multiple
administrations have since held power without resolving the issue.
“The
reality is that the 40 per cent entitlement remains unrealised
despite years of governance and negotiations,” he said, adding that
some current leaders were part of previous administrations linked to
unresolved controversies.
Chin
further questioned the government’s indication that it may table
its own motion in the future, suggesting that the issue lay not in
the substance of the proposal but in control over the narrative.
“When
the opposition tables a motion, it is rejected. When the government
does so, it becomes acceptable. This is not about procedure, but
about avoiding formal commitments on record,” he said.
He
concluded by urging the government to allow open debate, disclose
revenue data, and formally commit to Sabah’s constitutional rights
in the State Assembly which is the highest authority of Sabah.
“The
people of Sabah will judge not by who speaks the most, but by who has
the courage to deliver solutions and defend their rights,” he said.
Issued
by:
CHIN
TEK MING
ADUN
N.25 KAPAYAN
5.5.2026
