KUCHING: Kota Sentosa Assemblyman, Wilfred Yap Yau Sin, has urged the Sarawak Government to take proactive measures to secure the state’s full entitlement under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.
This follows the recent Sabah High Court ruling which reaffirmed the federal government’s constitutional obligation to review and pay special grants due to Sabah.
Yap said that the court’s decision confirms what Sarawakians have long maintained, that the rights of Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution are legal and enforceable obligations, not matters of discretion or goodwill.
Yap stressed that the judgment should serve as a wake-up call for Sarawak to push for a full and lawful review of its own special grant entitlement, which has not been properly adjusted for decades despite constitutional provisions requiring reviews every five years.
“Sarawak’s rights under Article 112D mirror those of Sabah. If Sabah is entitled to a review and arrears for the past years, Sarawak must be accorded the same treatment,” he said in a statement.
He noted that while the interim RM600 million grants currently allocated to Sarawak is appreciated, it does not replace a proper constitutional review that should reflect the state’s fair share of federal revenue generated from Sarawak.
Yap added that the Sabah High Court’s judgment sets a significant legal precedent and strengthens Sarawak’s position in ongoing MA63 implementation discussions, urging the state government to formally initiate a review process under Article 112D and, if necessary, consider legal recourse to ensure compliance from the federal government.
“This is not about confrontation. It is about upholding the rule of law and ensuring the federal-state relationship functions within the framework agreed upon at Malaysia’s formation,” he said.
Yap also called on Sarawak’s Members of Parliament serving in the Federal Cabinet to ensure the state’s fiscal rights are fully respected, emphasising that such rights are clearly enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
He said securing Sarawak’s dues is essential for the state to enhance investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and community development, particularly in rural and semi-urban constituencies.
Expressing confidence in the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, Yap said that the state government will continue to defend and advance Sarawak’s rightful interests under MA63 and the Federal Constitution.
“The Sabah judgment has reopened the constitutional pathway for both Sabah and Sarawak to restore what was promised in 1963.
“This is the moment for Sarawak to act decisively and reclaim what is rightfully ours,” he added.
