Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali expresses strong confidence in the federal government’s commitment to Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement.
PAPAR: Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali has expressed strong confidence in the federal government’s commitment to realising Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement claim.
The federal minister said the open acknowledgement of the matter, as stated in Parliament by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is a significant development that had never occurred under previous administrations.
“The Prime Minister himself stated openly and officially in Parliament on Nov 12, 2025 that the federal government recognises Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement as provided under Article 112C and Part IV of the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
“This position had never been taken by previous federal governments. In fact, it was previously answered in Parliament by the former administration that the 40 per cent entitlement had ceased to be in force,” he told reporters after a briefing on the status of major infrastructure projects for the Papar parliamentary constituency at the Papar District Office here today.
Armizan, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah deputy secretary-general, said the recognition forms a strong basis for negotiations between the state and federal governments, with a target of increasing special grants to Sabah to at least RM3 billion annually.
Armizan stressed that the Sabah state government remains consistent in championing the claim through various channels, including the State Legislative Assembly.
Commenting on Kapayan state assemblyman Chin Tek Ming’s dissatisfaction over the rejection of his private member’s motion on the issue during the recent Sabah assembly sitting, Armizan said the rejection was made under the authority and decision of the Speaker, and was not influenced by any political party.
He said the rejection of the motion, which he described as politically motivated, should not be misinterpreted as a rejection of the 40 per cent entitlement claim.
“The rejection of a private member’s motion in the State Assembly does not mean that the House, let alone the state government, abandons the struggle for the 40 per cent claim. This perception needs to be corrected,” he said.
He said that during the latest assembly sitting, the state government also detailed updates on negotiations, including an approach based on tax collection data to determine the special grant rate.
He added that the state government under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor will continue to champion the claim in the interest of the people of Sabah.
