Kuala Lumpur: Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau rejected claims that Sabah and Sarawak are using the proposed Borneo Bloc to consolidate political power at the federal level, saying such assertions ignore both historical facts and constitutional provisions.
Responding to remarks by former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, Tangau said Sabah and Sarawak’s demands are grounded entirely in the Federal Constitution and the documents that led to the formation of Malaysia.
Advertisement
“This is not about seeking more than what we are entitled to. It is about implementing what was agreed upon in 1963, but was conveniently ignored by the central government over the years,” he said.
Zaid suggested on Monday that Sabah and Sarawak already have strong political leverage within Malaysia and are now trying to increase it further through the proposed Borneo Bloc.
He argued that they secured significant safeguards and advantages when Malaysia was formed and continue to benefit from special rights and ongoing negotiations.
“Whatever safeguards that we have secured in 1963 was given simply as a precondition for Sabah and Sarawak to agree to the formation of Malaysia,” said Madius who is also Upko Honorary President.
“Zaid would remember the 20 points for Sabah and 18 Points for Sarawak as our condition to form Malaysia.
“They lured us to agree to form a new nation called Malaysia, and we reluctantly agreed. Remember one-third of Sabahans disagree to the formation of Malaysia,” he added. Another one-third was unsure why only one-third agreed.
He stressed that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report and the Federal Constitution form the legal foundation of Malaysia.
He pointed to Article 1 of the Federal Constitution, saying the principle of equal partnership is embedded in the constitutional definition of the Federation.
He noted that while the wording was altered in 1976, Parliament amended the provision again in 2021 to restore the original formulation recognising Sabah and Sarawak’s status within the Federation.
“That amendment was passed by Parliament. It reaffirms that Sabah and Sarawak are not merely one among many states, but integral partners in the formation of Malaysia,” he said.
Madius also cited Article 161E, which provides constitutional safeguards requiring the consent of Sabah and Sarawak for amendments affecting their special rights.
“These protections are entrenched in the Constitution. They are not political concessions or tactical tools.
They are part of the federal structure,” he said, believing that Zaid is well aware of these facts.
ON the long-standing 40 per cent net revenue entitlement, Madius said the matter is expressly provided for under Article 112C and the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
“We have been denied that right for decades. If it is implemented today, there will naturally be financial implications for the Federal Government — but that cannot be blamed on Sabah.
“The failure to implement it earlier was not our doing,” he said.He added that Sabah had sought judicial clarification on the matter, underscoring that the issue is one of constitutional compliance rather than political bargaining.
On calls for one-third parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak, Madius argued that the demand is rooted in the original 1963 seat distribution.
At the formation of Malaysia, he said, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore collectively held enough seats to prevent unilateral constitutional amendments by Peninsular Malaysia.
However, following Singapore’s exit in 1965, its 15 parliamentary seats were not redistributed to Sabah and Sarawak.“
The result today is that peninsula MPs alone can command the two-thirds majority required to amend the Federal Constitution. That was not the original spirit of the federation,” he said.
Restoring one-third representation for Sabah and Sarawak, he added, would re-establish the structural safeguard intended at the formation of Malaysia.
Madius also said electoral boundary reviews for Sabah and Sarawak are overdue under constitutional requirements, noting that seat reviews are mandated periodically.
“This is a constitutional process. It should not be mischaracterised as political manoeuvring,” he said.
Beyond constitutional provisions, Madius highlighted development disparities, noting that despite Sabah’s vast natural resources, eight of the 10 poorest districts in Malaysia are located in the State.
“Sabah and Sarawak together account for about 60 per cent of Malaysia’s landmass.
Yet large parts of these regions remain underdeveloped. No Malaysian should be proud of that,” he said.
