Yap described the move as a historic acknowledgment of East Malaysia’s fiscal and constitutional rights under the MA63. – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING (Nov 12): Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has lauded the federal government’s decision not to appeal the recent High Court ruling affirming Sabah’s constitutional entitlement to 40 per cent of net revenue collected from the state.
The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kota Sentosa branch chairman described the move as a historic acknowledgment of East Malaysia’s fiscal and constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“This is not just a victory for Sabah; it is a victory for all East Malaysians, including Sarawak, who have long been calling for fairness and respect for our constitutional rights,” he said in a statement today.
He pointed out that Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution clearly outline the federal government’s duty to provide annual special grants to Sabah and Sarawak, subject to periodic review.
“However, such reviews have not been properly conducted for decades, resulting in what I describe as Sarawak’s ‘lost years’ of underpayment.
“Just as the High Court found that the federal government failed to review Sabah’s entitlement since 1974, the same can be said for Sarawak.
“For far too long, our special grant has remained static and outdated, despite Sarawak being a major contributor to national wealth through oil, gas, and natural resources,” he stressed.
Yap said the High Court ruling, now left unchallenged, sets a legal precedent that fiscal entitlements under MA63 are enforceable rights rather than matters of political discretion.
He called on both the Sarawak and federal governments to initiate a comprehensive review of Sarawak’s fiscal entitlements under Article 112D, taking into account the state’s contributions to national revenue and the need to close rural development gaps.
“Sarawak’s demand for fiscal justice is not about taking more than our fair share — it is about reclaiming what is rightfully ours under the Constitution and MA63,” he explained.
“Revenue collected from Sarawak should return to the people in the form of better healthcare, education, infrastructure, and livelihoods, ensuring that Sarawak’s growth is funded by Sarawak’s own contribution.”
Yap also commended the federal government’s acceptance of the ruling as a “mature and constructive step” towards realising the true spirit of MA63, reaffirming Malaysia as a partnership of equals — Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak — bound by constitutional guarantees.
“If Putrajaya now acknowledges Sabah’s 40 per cent right, it must also recognise Sarawak’s entitlement to a fair and proportionate return,” he asserted.
Calling for greater transparency in federal revenue calculation and distribution, Yap emphasised that fiscal accountability is key to strengthening federal-state relations.
“This is the time for accountability. Sarawakians deserve to know how much of what we contribute comes back to us,” he said.
“The federal government has shown its willingness to comply with the Constitution, and now it is up to us, as Sarawakians, to ensure our fiscal rights are fully realised.”
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