By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will meet with the federal government on Monday to discuss matters related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
"During that meeting, I am confident that the 40 per cent revenue entitlement will be mentioned.
"For now, I would like to inform you that the state and federal governments are actively engaged in discussions to ensure that the allocation announced by the prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) can be paid this year," he told a press conference here.
Earlier, Masidi represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at the launch of the state-level National Day and Sabah Day celebrations.
Last week, the state assembly was told that Sabah had received RM600 million of the RM1.5 billion special grant promised by Anwar.
In April, the Court of Appeal allowed the federal government's application to stay a High Court order requiring a review of Sabah's 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
The Kota Kinabalu High Court had on Oct 17, 2025, ruled that the federal government acted unlawfully by failing to honour Sabah's right to 40 per cent of federal revenue from 1974 to 2021.
On Hajiji's message that love for Sabah is inseparable from patriotism towards the nation, Masidi said the two sentiments are indivisible because Sabah is part of Malaysia.
When asked whether Sabahans' strong state identity could stem from unequal development, Masidi said it was more important to ensure Sabah was at the forefront of, and part and parcel of, the country's overall development agenda.
"I'm not in the blame game or against it. I think eventually Malaysians, including Sabahans, should ask themselves what they have done to contribute to the overall development of the country."
Responding to comments by several assemblymen that Sabah should not emulate Sarawak, particularly in terms of policies and development, Masidi said an "apple-to-apple" comparison could not be made between the two states.
He added that every state has a different development agenda.
"What suits one state may not suit another. The sort of development we have in Sabah is tailor-made for Sabah.
"When people offer criticism or opinions, they should also come up with solutions. I believe most Sabahans are patriotic."
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