KOTA KINABALU – Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri) has called on all stakeholders to rally behind the Sabah state government’s firm stance in securing the 40% net revenue entitlement as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
The party’s President, Datuk Henrynus Amin, stated that the recent legal milestones achieved by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) have provided the state with a powerful legal foundation. This victory, he noted, is a turning point that compels the Federal Government to move toward a concrete concession.
Respecting Federal Constraints and Judicial Process
While the issue remains a focal point for the state, Datuk Henrynus emphasized that Anak Negeri recognizes the Federal Government’s right to exhaust the judicial process.
"Appealing a decision and seeking a stay of execution are standard parts of the court process," Henrynus remarked. "We understand that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the federal administration require sufficient time to gather and verify data before making a definitive final decision."
Datuk Henrynus expressed confidence that the Federal Government under PM Anwar Ibrahim offers the best opportunity for Sabah to finally resolve the 40% claim. He echoed the sentiments of Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, acknowledging that Sabah’s demands must be weighed against the Federal Government’s actual fiscal capacity.
Strategic Discussion with Datuk Roger Chin
Datuk Henrynus revealed that he recently met with Datuk Roger Chin, Nominated Assemblyman and former President of the SLS, to discuss the party’s position. During the meeting, Henrynus outlined a pragmatic approach to the timeline of the claim.
He argued that while the court process should continue to determine the arrears owed between 1974 and 2021, there is no justification for delaying payments for the period from 2022 to the present day.
The Proposed "Two-Tier" Payment Formula
To bridge this gap and ensure Sabahans benefit immediately without overstraining federal coffers, Anak Negeri has proposed a unique Two-Tier Payment Formula:
50% Cash Grant: A direct monetary transfer to state coffers to fund immediate development needs.
50% Federal Service Credit: Designed to ease federal fiscal constraints by avoiding a massive lump-sum cash outflow. This would act as a recognized federal debt to Sabah, converted into an annual federal allocation.
Key Safeguards for Service Credits
Datuk Henrynus insisted on a crucial caveat for the "Service Credit" tier to ensure the state is not penalized for administrative delays:
No Reversion of Funds: Any federal allocation under this scheme cannot be returned to the Federal Government if not fully implemented within the fiscal year.
State Autonomy: The implementation and spending priorities of this allocation must be decided entirely by the Sabah government.
A Path to Resolution
Despite the ongoing legalities, Anak Negeri expressed optimism that a resolution will be reached within months, rather than years. Datuk Henrynus urged for patience during the data-gathering phase but remained firm that the momentum gained from the SLS court victory must not be squandered.
"This is about securing what is constitutionally owed to the people of Sabah," he concluded. "With a fair payment structure that balances state rights with federal fiscal capacity, we are closer than ever to a resolution."
