KOTA KINABALU: Senator Tan Sri Anifah Aman (
pic) has dismissed a claim by former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim that Sabahans and Sarawakians are seeking to “control Malaysia,” describing the statement as misleading and historically inaccurate.
In a
Facebook post on Tuesday, Anifah, who is also Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president, described Zaid’s remarks as “historical fiction” and a “twist of facts” that misrepresent the history and intentions of Sabah and Sarawak.
He said Sabah and Sarawak formed Malaysia in 1963 as equal partners under the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) following negotiations with Malayan representatives and the Inter-Governmental Committee.
Anifah said the formation of Malaysia was not a unilateral decision imposed by British colonial authorities.
He also rejected Zaid’s portrayal of the Borneo states as gatekeepers restricting outsiders from business or work, saying Sabah has always welcomed genuine economic partnerships.
Anifah said Sabah’s legal and political actions, including claims involving Petronas operations, the Petroleum Development Act and the Law of the Sea, are lawful assertions of constitutional rights rather than attempts to dominate federal governance.
On Monday, Zaid claimed on
Facebook that Sabahans and Sarawakians are trying to “control Malaysia,” arguing that their push for autonomy, constitutional rights and state privileges amounts to an attempt to influence national decision-making.
