DECISION NOT TO APPEAL SHOWS ANWAR UNDERSTANDS SABAHANS’ ASPIRATIONS - HAJIJI

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- The Federal Government's decision not to appeal the High Court's ruling relating to Sabah's 40 per cent revenue rights showed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim understands the hopes and aspirations of Sabahans.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the decision also reflected Anwar's sincere commitment to uphold Sabah's rights as enshrined under the Federal Constitution.

As such, he said the Sabah government would like to express its appreciation to Anwar and the Cabinet for the decision, which reaffirms Sabah's constitutional rights to the 40 per cent Special Grant.

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"In my meetings and discussions with the Prime Minister, I had stated the state government's firm stance that Sabah's constitutional rights must be respected, recognised and fulfilled.

"The decision not to appeal reflects the strong working relationship between the state government under the leadership of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Putrajaya,” he said in a statement tonight.

On Oct 17, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that the Federal Government acted unlawfully and beyond its constitutional powers when it failed to fulfil Sabah’s rights to 40 per cent of federal revenue for the years 1974 to 2021.

Hajiji, who is also GRS chairman, said the state government was ready to continue negotiating constructively with the Federal Government to carry out the court's ruling to review and finalise the agreement, while calling on the people to continue to support Anwar's leadership.

He said that respecting the court's ruling is an important step towards closing Sabah's development gap with the Peninsula, encompassing aspects of infrastructure, agriculture and basic amenities that are still lagging. 

"The people of Sabah have waited long enough. What is needed now is firm action and genuine political will to honour and implement the 40 per cent entitlement,”  he said.

-- BERNAMA