Sabahans Should Accept Fact Anwar Approved Record Interim Grant - Youth Leader

By Fadzli Ramli

KOTA KINABALU, May 31 (Bernama) -- Despite the challenges in meeting the 40 per cent state revenue entitlement, Sabahans are urged to understand and accept the fact that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the Prime Minister who has had the courage to approve the highest interim grant in the history of the claim.

Sabah Youth Council deputy president Mohd Nur Hilmie Milus said the federal government's commitment under Anwar's leadership has been clear and consistent, with the payment increased in stages from RM300 million to RM600 million, before the latest jump to RM1.5 billion.

He said every Prime Minister had their own contributions and approaches, but Anwar had demonstrated a strong political commitment in translating the demands under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) from discussions into policy and major financial decisions.

"This is not merely about politicising figures, but about the political courage to recognise that Sabah deserves fairer treatment within the framework of the Malaysian Federation," he told Bernama.

Yesterday, Anwar, when officiating at the Sabah State-level Kaamatan Festival 2026, announced that the interim special grant for Sabah has been increased to RM1.5 billion from RM600 million, pending the finalisation of the implementation mechanism for the state's 40 per cent revenue entitlement under MA63.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud was reported as saying that before the change of the federal government in 2022, Sabah had received about RM26.7 million annually for decades, before the amount rose to RM125.6 million in 2022; RM300 million in 2023 and 2024; and RM600 million in 2025 and 2026, before being increased to RM1.5 billion this year.

Mohd Nur Hilmie said the historic achievement could not be separated from the role of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who chose a path of mature negotiations, maintained a strategic relationship with the federal government, while remaining firm in championing Sabah's rights.

He said the diplomatic approach proved that pursuing state rights and MA63 did not necessarily require Sabah to constantly adopt a confrontational stance or be at odds with Putrajaya. Instead, stable Sabah-federal relations had produced more tangible benefits for the people.

At the same time, Mohd Nur Hilmie acknowledged that the people were aware that many fundamental demands and legacy issues remained unresolved, particularly those involving critical infrastructure needs such as water and electricity supply, roads, educational facilities and healthcare services.

Nevertheless, he urged the public to be fair and honest in assessing the commitment of both federal and state leaders today in addressing issues that had persisted for a long time.

"Do not only look at who speaks the loudest about Sabah. Also look at who truly has the courage to bring Sabah's issues to the national decision-making table. Ultimately, the struggle for MA63 is not about political slogans; it is about dignity, justice and Sabah's future," he said.

-- BERNAMA