KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 12 -- Sabah's claim for decades of unpaid "Lost Years" payments could still be affected despite the federal government's decision not to challenge the High Court ruling affirming the state's constitutional right to 40 per cent of federal revenue collected from it, a lawyer has warned.

Datuk Roger Chin, immediate past president of the Sabah Law Society, said the state's effort to recover the arrears may be affected as Putrajaya still intends to appeal parts of the judgment.

"While the federal government's acceptance of Sabah's 40 per cent right is a step in the right direction, it should be received with cautious optimism," Chin said in a statement today.

"It marks an important step forward, signalling that Putrajaya ...