Sabah political leaders have cast doubt on Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin’s pledge to return 40% of tax revenue collected from Sabah, dismissing it as another election ploy ahead of the 17th Sabah state election (PRN17).
Warisan’s Sri Tanjong assemblyman Justin Wong said under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Sabah and Sarawak are recognised as equal partners with Malaya, and the terms must be honoured.
“When Muhyiddin was prime minister in 2020, nothing was implemented despite its importance. Even with Hajiji Noor as chief minister, the MA63 provision was not realised. Now, with PRN17 approaching, this promise is being repeated. Will Sabah voters still believe it?” he asked.
He added that Sabah remains a model of harmony in its multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, unlike the “extreme politics” seen in Peninsular Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a component of the GRS-Plus state government, also dismissed the pledge as insincere. Its information chief Nicholas Ban said Sabahans have been misled too many times.
“Why wait until election season to make such promises? Sabah was never treated fairly during PN’s time in power, let alone receiving its 40% share,” he said.
Ban stressed that Sabah’s constitutional entitlement under Articles 112C and 112D has been suspended since 1974 and cannot be reduced to “campaign candy.”
“What Sabah needs is a legally binding guarantee, not slogans,” he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof earlier said in July that the federal government would deliberate on Sabah’s proposal at the MA63 meeting scheduled for Sept 12.
