“When you listen long enough, you realise something fundamental, namely Sabah’s development problems are not for lack of effort or ambition. They stem from a lack of resources reaching the state — resources that the Federal Constitution itself guarantees. The 40% entitlement was meant to ensure that Sabah had the means to build, to grow and prosper,” he tells The Edge. Federal government coalition partners Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional, and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah also participated in the election. With Johor’s push for greater economic autonomy suggesting that the state is eager to chart its own long-term direction, how will Onn Hafiz balance the state’s ambitions with national constraints?

Source: The Edge Markets January 08, 2026 04:16 UTC