SABAH Pakatan Harapan (PH) elected representatives are suing Putrajaya for the state’s 40% entitlement to federal government revenue.

Six PH lawmakers and seven assemblymen filed the suit at the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in Kota Kinabalu, according to a joint statement by state DAP, PKR, Amanah and Upko today.

The suit names the Malaysian government as first defendant and the Sabah government as second defendant.

“The recent revelation by the finance minister in Parliament that Sabah’s 40% entitlement is no longer applicable is clear breach of the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” said the statement.

“We can no longer ignore the continuous infringement of the constitutional rights of Sabah folk.”

Putrajaya in April announced that Sabah’s special grant will be increased to RM125.6 million from RM26.7 million starting this year, but the coalition said this is not in accordance with the 40% entitlement.

The joint statement was issued by Sabah DAP chairman Frankie Poon, Sabah PKR chairman Christina Liew, Sabah Amanah chairman Lahirul Latigu and Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau.

It is disappointing that the review of article 112D of the Federal Constitution, concerning special grants and revenue for Sabah, is not based on the 40% formula, they said.

“If Sabah’s 40% entitlement was respected and delivered, each Sabah resident would experience a better quality of life.

“It is time that this continuous deprivation and infringement of our constitutional rights be brought to the courts and finally resolved.” – June 3, 2022.