KOTA KINABALU, April 30 — The Sabah State Legislative Assembly today passed two Bills aimed at overhauling the state’s property and housing governance framework particularly for condominiums or buildings with shared common areas.

The Assembly approved the Building Management Enactment 2026 and the Land (Subsidiary Title) Enactment 2026, both designed to modernise how strata developments are managed, improve accountability and streamline the issuance of subsidiary titles amid rapid urban growth in the state.

Tabling the Building Management Bill, State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Ariffin Arif said the existing legal framework under the Land (Subsidiary Title) Enactment 1972 was not comprehensive enough and had not been updated to current needs.

“There are issues such as delayed establishment of Management Corporations, weak financial management including maintenance and sinking funds, lack of transparency and inadequate regulatory control during the interim management period,” he told the House.

Ariffin said the new law seeks to address these gaps through a more structured governance system, including the establishment of a Building Commissioner, stricter financial reporting requirements, and a mandatory timeline for developers to hand over management to property owners.

The Bill also introduces a tribunal for building management disputes, with the objective to ensure a more efficient, transparent and accountable building management system that protects the interests of owners and buyers.

Meanwhile, the Land (Subsidiary Title) Enactment 2026, tabled by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Isnin Aliasnih, introduces a broader and more modern legal framework governing the subdivision of buildings and land into subsidiary titles.

The new law expands beyond the 1972 Enactment by covering not only buildings but also land with multiple structures, reflecting more complex and mixed development models in Sabah today.

It also restructures the legal framework into eight comprehensive divisions, introduces electronic land registers, strengthens documentation requirements, and allows for provisional subsidiary titles to accommodate phased developments.

The enactment further tightens enforcement provisions and imposes heavier penalties for non-compliance, including fines of up to RM1 million for failure to apply for subdivision within the stipulated period.

Both Bills were passed after debate in the House and were largely lauded and welcomed by both sides of the political divide.

Lawmakers described the reforms as long overdue and necessary to address long-standing inefficiencies in strata management, improve investor confidence, and safeguard the interests of thousands of property owners in the state.

APRIL 30 — After losing the support of the majority of the members of the State Legislative Assembly (SLA), and having not tendered his resignation, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun Aminudddin Harun should be deemed to have vacated his office together with members of the executive council (Exco).

This is as decided by the Federal Court in the Nizar v Zambry case.

Now, having met with the State Ruler, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, and having been advised by the latter to continue with governing the State, is it correct to call it a minority government?

With the greatest respect, I say the term is incorrect.

A minority government is a government formed by a political party or coalition of parties that does not have an overall majority of members of the legislative assembly.

But a crucial aspect of a constitutional government is that the government of the day must enjoy the confidence of the members of the legislative assembly, be it the federal Parliament or SLA.

This means that the State government cannot be said to be a government of the day – minority or majority – when the Menteri Besar (MB) does not command the confidence of the majority of the members of the SLA.

Accordingly, the Negeri Sembilan State government is but a caretaker or interim government.

The position of a ‘caretaker’ or ‘interim’ government is not provided for under the State Constitution – nor under the Federal Constitution – but it is a convention that came from the Westminster parliamentary system.

The writer argues that the Negeri Sembilan government should be regarded as a caretaker or interim administration rather than a minority government following a loss of majority support in the State Legislative Assembly. — Bernama pic

But since there is no such thing as a caretaker government under the Constitution, a caretaker government technically holds the same power as that of the government of the day.

It must be noted though that there are conventions that recogniSe certain limits to the powers that may be exercised by a caretaker government.

Accordingly, if the government of the day is to fully exercise its powers as constitutionally and legally mandated, it must be returned as a government having the confidence of the SLA.

Umno’s move to continue backing the unity government in Negeri Sembilan, ensuring stability and continuity in the State’s administration, must therefore be welcomed.

Let it not be questioned whether the State government is a minority or a caretaker government.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.

MELAKA, April 29 — PAS is set to contest 16 of the 28 seats in the upcoming Melaka state election.

Melaka PAS Commissioner Zulkifli Ismail said the party has identified the following constituencies — Pantai Kundor, Paya Rumput, Klebang, Tanjung Bidara, Ayer Limau, Linggi, Taboh Naning, Rembia, Durian Tunggal, Ayer Molek, Pengkalan Batu, Telok Mas, Duyong, Sungai Rambai, Merlimau and Serkam.

He said PAS had resolved to field candidates for the 16 seats, selecting individuals with credibility, integrity and strong leadership qualities.

“This decision is in line with the announcement made by PAS Central Election Director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor during the recent launch of Melaka PAS’ election machinery,” he said in a statement posted on the Melaka PAS Facebook page today.

The current term of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly will expire this December, setting the stage for the state election this year. — Bernama

KOTA KINABALU, April 28 — Sabah has formally asked Putrajaya to immediately pay its 40 per cent revenue entitlement amounting to just over RM3 billion, with state Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun insisting the claim is based on undisputed and publicly available tax data.

Masidi said the state government wrote to the federal government on April 10 seeking payment of 40 per cent from two forms of taxes – customs and income tax – collected in Sabah which alone totalled RM7.547 billion in 2025.

“Forty per cent of that comes to RM3.019 billion. These are not figures in dispute – they are published statistics. There should be no room for doubt, and on that basis alone, the payment should be made,” he said in the State Legislative Assembly today.

Masidi stressed that while ongoing legal proceedings have delayed broader claims, particularly those involving “lost years” between 1974 and 2021, Sabah is seeking immediate payment for more recent years where the data is clear and uncontested.

He said the state respects a Court of Appeal decision on April 6 to defer implementation of Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement pending an appeal at the High Court in Kota Kinabalu, but emphasised that the decision relates specifically to retrospective claims.

“The delay authorised by the Court of Appeal concerns the special grant for past years. It does not negate our position on current entitlements, which are based on transparent and shared data,” he said.

Masidi added that Sabah would not compromise on what he described as the state’s “absolute right”, and that negotiations with the federal government are continuing through official negotiation channels rather than through the public media domain.

He also said that while some figures cannot yet be disclosed due to ongoing negotiations, the state’s internal estimates suggest Sabah’s total claim could be significantly higher.

“Out of respect to ourselves, and to the negotiation process, we cannot disclose figures other than those that have been made public,” he said.

To other supplementary questions, Masidi affirmed that Sabah’s claim extends beyond income tax and customs duties to include other revenue streams, including petroleum-related duties, though these remain under discussion.

“All taxes that we believe we are entitled to, we will claim, regardless of type,” he said.

Sabah has long maintained that it is constitutionally entitled to 40 per cent of net revenue derived from the state, a provision that has been the subject of protracted negotiations and legal disputes with the federal government.