KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is not like other states, and its fiscal arrangements cannot be compared with the rest of Malaysia, former Chief Minister Salleh Said Keruak has stressed.
He called for full transparency and the establishment of a permanent framework to resolve the state’s longstanding revenue issues.
Salleh made the remarks in response to Johan Merican, the Secretary-General of the Treasury, who suggested that the current arrangements between Putrajaya and Sabah could serve as a model for other states.
“Efforts to improve revenue collection, commercial cooperation, and economic participation involving the Federal Government, the State, and industry players such as Petronas are acknowledged as a positive step.
“However, Sabah cannot be compared to other states. Sabah’s fiscal position is grounded in constitutional arrangements specific to Sabah and Sarawak, not general policy or development demands,” he said.
Salleh warned that framing Sabah as a benchmark for other states risks misrepresenting the issue.
“This is not about discretionary funding models. It is about addressing long-standing structural and constitutional matters,” he explained.
He emphasised that any discussion on revenue involving Sabah must begin with full transparency, noting that the accounting is complex and technical.
“Without open access to data, outcomes cannot be considered fair or credible,” he added.
Salleh opined that a permanent Federal–State joint committee is required, with clear authority, shared data access, and independent technical expertise, to properly resolve revenue calculation and collection issues.
“Ad-hoc arrangements and selective disclosures are not sufficient. What is needed is an institutional and permanent mechanism that reflects Sabah’s constitutional position,” he said.
According to Salleh, progress made so far may be recognised, but much more work remains, and comparisons with other states only distract from proper resolution.
“Sabah is not seeking preferential treatment. We are demanding accuracy, transparency, and constitutional consistency,” he said.
