KOTA KINABALU: Central Women Chief of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Glenna Wong, has voiced support for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Women’s Wing Chief Datuk Seri Panglima Azizah Mohd Dun in urging the government to expedite a substantive resolution to Sabah’s long-standing 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
Glenna was responding to recent remarks by Azizah, who emphasised that Sabah is entitled to receive its overdue share and that the issue should no longer be delayed on technical grounds. She also highlighted the importance of continuing negotiations alongside the ongoing legal process to achieve a timely and meaningful resolution.
According to Glenna, what has been described as a “delay in implementation” should not be misconstrued as a halt in efforts.
“Within the existing institutional and legal framework, both the Federal and State governments must demonstrate stronger political will through sustained dialogue and negotiations to restore Sabah’s rightful entitlements,” she said.
Glenna, who is also Deputy Chief of the GRS Women’s Wing, stressed that the matter goes beyond legal considerations and touches on broader issues of justice and public trust.
“This is not merely a legal matter, but one of fairness and confidence in the system. Continued delays risk further eroding public trust,” she said.
She noted that as a key resource-contributing state, Sabah continues to face persistent challenges, including infrastructure gaps, high living costs and geographical constraints. In this context, she said, the implementation of the 40 per cent revenue entitlement is not solely about fiscal distribution, but has direct implications for the well-being of the people and balanced regional development.
Glenna also dismissed claims by certain quarters linking the issue to diesel subsidy politics, describing such assertions as misplaced.
“Sabah and Sarawak, as major resource-producing states, are entitled to fair returns. This should not be misconstrued as a political agenda,” she added.
On a related matter, Glenna expressed support for proposals to increase Sabah’s parliamentary representation, noting that the current allocation no longer reflects the state’s population growth and development needs.
She said an increase in seats would strengthen Sabah’s ability to advocate for policies and secure federal allocations, while also creating more opportunities for women’s participation in national governance, thereby fostering a more inclusive political landscape.
Glenna urged the Federal Government to take seriously the long-standing aspirations of Sabahans and to adopt a more proactive and pragmatic approach in resolving the issue.
“Only by addressing these delays decisively can we uphold the principles of justice, restore public confidence and move towards more balanced and sustainable national development,” she said.