Ewon: Thanks for explaining, but govt still appealing Sabah 40pct ruling

Former entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister Ewon Benedick acknowledged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s explanation on Sabah’s 40 percent revenue entitlement.

However, he pointed out that the federal government is still appealing the recent High Court decision on the matter.

“I appreciate the prime minister’s explanation in Parliament today, which recognises that Sabah’s 40 percent right is protected under the Federal Constitution.

“I also take note of the appeal that will be filed against the grounds of judgment. But an appeal is an appeal,” the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president said on Facebook today.

Ewon, who resigned from his minister post last week in protest over the state’s 40 percent revenue share, said he has been consistently vocal on the issue over his three years in cabinet.

Despite that, he said the responses he received were “similar to those given at Tamu Gaya street”.

He was referring to what Anwar told a member of the public at the Gaya Street market in Kota Kinabalu last week.

In a video circulating on social media, the prime minister appeared to dismiss any distinction between federal allocations to Sabah and the 40 percent share of federal revenue collected from the state, which is supposed to be paid as a special grant.

He was heard telling a man that the government allocated RM17 billion to Sabah, compared to RM10 billion collected from the state in federal revenue.

The man then responded by saying that the RM17 billion was a federal obligation, and not the same as the 40 percent revenue share as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. The video ended before the exchange was completed.

Explanation of govt’s appeal

Earlier today, Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that the federal government will only appeal the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s ruling that Putrajaya and the Sabah government had made major mistakes since 1974.

He said that the appeal will not affect the ruling over Sabah’s entitlement to a 40 percent share of federal revenue collected from the state.

“Statements that we consider as inconsistent and inaccurate must be appealed,” he had said.

“If not, without an appeal, the ruling could mean a penalty on the governments since 1974... the federal government, all government members, and (former Sabah chief ministers) Datu Mustapha Datu Harun and Fuad Stephens, since 1974 in Sabah, (as well as) all governments and all parties involved,” said the prime minister.

On Tuesday, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) announced that Putrajaya will not appeal the court ruling affirming Sabah’s entitlement to a 40 percent share of federal revenue collected from the state.

However, it intends to appeal parts of the judgment that described the federal and state governments as having violated the Federal Constitution in relation to the revenue entitlement.

The court’s Oct 17 ruling was over a judicial review filed by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) against the government.

Call for Sabahans to read court ruling

In his post today, Ewon, who is the Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairperson, urged Sabahans to read and understand the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s ruling on the state’s revenue entitlement.

He described it as a “must-read and must-own document” for every Sabahan.

“We must celebrate Sabah’s true heroes - the Sabah Law Society, and the young man at Tamu Gaya Street who asked, ‘Bila mau bayar 40 percent?’ (When are you paying the 40 percent?),” he said.

Ewon is expected to further elaborate on the issue during his address at the “Konvensyen Rakyat” and the launch of the “Sabah First” roadshow at Dewan Gawir in Kampung Madsiang, Penampang, tonight.

Under Article 112C of the Federal Constitution, the 40 percent revenue share is supposed to be paid in the form of a special grant, which Sabah would have full control over.

In Budget 2026, Anwar said the special grant for Sabah would be RM600 million.

Based on the RM10 billion figure, which the prime minister said was collected from Sabah, the 40 percent special grant should be RM4 billion.

Warisan rep slams ‘misleading’ remarks

In a separate statement, Warisan supreme council member Calvin Chong said Anwar’s statement - that the RM17 billion allocation to Sabah was a sign of “caring for Sabah’s interests” - was inaccurate and misleading.

He said the statement was an attempt to obscure the fact that the federal government has not fulfilled its responsibility to remit the 40 percent revenue, which is guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

“The people of Sabah are not asking for charity; we are demanding justice. This is not about allocations; it is about rights. What we are asking for is revenue that has long been due and has been our entitlement for decades,” Chong said.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | What High Court's 40pct revenue ruling means for Sabah

“These are two entirely different concepts. Development allocations are part of the government’s annual administrative budget, whereas the 40 percent net revenue is Sabah’s legitimate constitutional right.

“If the government tries to equate the two, it means they are hiding the facts and avoiding their constitutional obligations,” Chong emphasised.

He also urged the federal government to stop misleading the public with vague political language and instead provide clear financial data along with a concrete, time-bound plan for the return of net revenue.

Chong also called on the federal government not to file an appeal against the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s Oct 17 verdict.

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