KOTA KINABALU: A move by Sabah lawyers to seek a judicial review over the state’s 40% revenue rights is a positive non-partisan initiative, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

       Hajiji said the Sabah government sees the move by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) in a positive light and considers it non-political, being in the common furtherance of Constitutional arrangements when Malaysia was formed in 1963.

       The state government, he added, took note of SLS’ application for a judicial review in respect of the 40% net revenue in the form of a special grant to which Sabah is entitled under the Federal Constitution.

       ALSO READ: Sabah Law Society files judicial review on federal grant

       “The Sabah government has been pursuing, and will continue to vigorously pursue, the 40% entitlement and other legitimate rights and interests of the state with the Federal Government,“ he said in a statement on Friday (June 10).

       In April, the Chief Minister had said Sabah welcomed the four-fold increment in the special grant for Sabah from the Federal Government from RM26.7mil to RM125.6mil beginning this year.

       Hajiji said the move was a good development for Sabah while the state government continued pursuing the 40% entitlement as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

       ALSO READ: Sabah happy with increased special grant, still pursuing 40% revenue share under MA63, says CM

       SLS filed for the judicial review on Thursday (June 9) to overturn Putrajaya's gazettement of the annual grant for Sabah, saying it was not in line with the state's revenue rights under MA63.

       The judicial review application was filed against the government at the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak by SLS lawyers Messrs J Marimuttu & Partners.

       On June 3, Sabah Pakatan Harapan, through 12 of its lawmakers, also filed a claim in the High Court to seek Sabah’s rights to its entitlement for the return of 40% of federal revenue derived from the state.