By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government hopes that the settlement of Sabah’s 40 per cent net revenue entitlement can be expedited by the Federal Government.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the matter was also raised during discussions with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Openg at the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council Meeting No. 1/2026 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) yesterday.
“For your information, on behalf of the Sabah Government, we have also sought due consideration, particularly in resolving the 40 per cent payment to Sabah.
“So we hope that this matter can be expedited. That is our position on behalf of the State of Sabah,” he said at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister and Sarawak Premier after the meeting.
Meanwhile, as an interim measure, Anwar said the Federal Government had agreed to immediately increase the payment to RM1.5 billion beginning this year.
Anwar said negotiations on the matter would continue, taking into account the country’s financial position as provided for under the original agreement.
“For this, I have agreed to immediately increase the amount to RM1.5 billion beginning this year as an interim measure. Negotiations will continue, taking into account the financial position as stipulated in the original agreement,” he said.
He said the government is expected to table a paper on the matter in Parliament in October before the RM1.5 billion is channelled to Sabah, possibly by the end of October or early November.
The Prime Minister also said the Cabinet on Wednesday agreed in principle to increase the participation of Members of Parliament from Sabah and Sarawak by raising their representation ratio.
Also present at the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council Meeting were Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Anwar (left), and Hajiji at the MA63 Implementation Action Council Meeting.
