Honour Sabah’s 40% revenue right - Kitingan

Star president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to promptly implement Sabah's 40 per cent revenue entitlement. Kitingan warned that continued refusal could spark a "referendum-like reaction" at the next election. This entitlement, he argued, is not a matter of federal discretion but a constitutional right under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution. A High Court ruling in Kota Kinabalu on October 17, 2025, supported Sabah's claim.

Kitingan dismissed arguments that the federal government's financial situation should dictate when the entitlement is paid, insisting the revenue is Sabah's own. He emphasized that this is not about the federal government's finances but about Sabah's rightful share. The RM1.5 billion interim special grant announced by Anwar during Kaamatan celebrations was viewed as insufficient by Kitingan, who believed Sabah should receive at least RM5 billion for 2026.

He proposed the establishment of an MA63 Revenue Tracking System to provide real-time monitoring and classification of federal revenue collected from Sabah. Implementing the entitlement could also boost the Madani Government's political standing and bolster support among the Borneo bloc, Kitingan suggested. Sabah reportedly contributes up to RM50 billion annually to federal revenue, and a 40 per cent share could potentially generate RM20 billion per year.

Kitingan stressed the distinction between federal subsidies and Sabah's constitutional entitlement, emphasizing that subsidies are different from constitutional rights.