SARAWAK does not have an express constitutional provision guaranteeing a 40 per cent revenue entitlement like Sabah said Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and Federal-State Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
She said that while Sabah’s recent High Court victory in Kota Kinabalu affirmed its entitlement to the 40 per cent revenue share, the same clause does not exist for Sarawak in the Federal Constitution.
“For the information of Katibas assemblyman and the August House, there is express provision in the Constitution on the 40 per cent entitlement to Sabah, not to Sarawak.
“There is no such express provision for Sarawak,” Hasidah said in reply to Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan during the DUN sitting here today.
However, she stressed that the ruling carries important implications for both Bornean states.
According to her, the principle established by the court is clear — the Federal Government has a constitutional duty to fulfil its financial obligations to Sabah and Sarawak, and these duties are subject to judicial scrutiny.
Hasidah said although Sabah’s case is unique, both states are constitutionally guaranteed financial reviews every five years under Article 112D.
“The court’s findings reinforce the expectation that such reviews must be conducted promptly, transparently and in good faith. Sarawak’s position is that the Special Grant should be based on a fair, consistent and clearly defined formula,” she said.
She added that the decision marks a meaningful step toward ensuring fairness and accountability in the federal government’s financial obligations.
“Sarawak remains steadfast in protecting its constitutional rights and will continue engaging the Federal Government under the framework of MA63,” she said.
On the status of negotiations over Sarawak’s Special Grant, Hasidah said discussions with Putrajaya remain ongoing, with “considerable progress” made at the technical level to refine the formula under Article 112D.
She said that as an interim measure, the federal government has agreed to increase Sarawak’s Special Grant from RM300 million in 2024 to RM600 million annually starting in 2025 for the next five years.
“While we are thankful for this, the Sarawak government continues to advocate for a finalised formula that is fair, transparent and reflective of Sarawak’s contributions,” she said.
Responding to a question on unresolved MA63 issues, Hasidah said Sarawak treats all outstanding matters with utmost seriousness.
“Our approach is systematic, focusing not only on the substance of each matter but ensuring discussions with the federal government are structured, constructive and result-oriented,” she said, adding that state teams are actively engaged in negotiations, policy planning and intergovernmental discussions.
