Tension in the Sabah State Assembly, Kapayan Assemblyman Raises Motion for 40 Percent State Revenue Demand
KOTA KINABALU, April 28 — The Sabah State Assembly (DUN) session today turned tense when the Kapayan Assemblyman, Chin Teck Ming, raised a motion regarding the demand for 40 percent of the state revenue of Sabah from the Federal Government.
The motion emphasized the need for the immediate implementation of Sabah's rights as enshrined under Article 112C and the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
Chin, in his argument, stated that Sabah is entitled to receive 40 percent of the net revenue collected by the Federal Government in the state, but the amount currently received is far lower than what it should be.
He informed that the revenue collected by the Federation from Sabah is estimated to reach between RM20 billion to RM30 billion annually. Based on that estimate, Sabah should receive around RM8 billion to RM12 billion each year.
However, the amount received so far has been reported to be only RM125.6 million for the years 2022 and 2023, RM300 million in 2024, and RM600 million in 2025, thus showing a significant gap between the actual revenue and the payments disbursed.
In this regard, he urged the state government to take decisive action, including presenting and approving the motion, as well as reporting the status of negotiations with the Federal Government within the stipulated timeframe.
Chin also suggested that legal action be considered if the demand continues to be unmet.
According to him, the issue is not merely political but involves the constitutional rights of Sabah and the long-term interests of the people of the state.
The tension that arose during the DUN session reflects the increasing pressure on both the state and Federal governments to provide a more transparent explanation regarding the actual amount of revenue collected and the payment mechanisms to Sabah.
The issue of the 40 percent demand continues to attract attention due to its significant implications for the state's financial position and the overall development of Sabah.
