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Borneo Herald
4.49PM MYT, 21-11-2025
By Edna Jessica Majimbun
KOTA KINABALU : Datuk Salleh Said Keruak’s recent remarks are not only misleading, but they recycle the same outdated narrative used for decades to justify Malaya-centric dominance over Sabah’s political future.
To call Sabahans’ desire for a Sabah-led government “politik sempit” is an insult to the very spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). MA63 was founded on the understanding that Sabah and Sarawak would never be subordinated to Malayan political control. Wanting Sabah to be governed by local parties is not narrow politics — it is a rightful demand consistent with the original structure of Malaysia.
For half a century, we were told that the only path to development was through “parti nasional.” If that were true, Sabah would already be a developed region. Instead, Sabah continues to be one of the poorest states despite decades of national-coalition rule. “Kerjasama dengan Persekutuan” under Malayan parties has clearly failed to lift Sabah where it deserves to be.
Salleh also talks about the 40% net revenue entitlement as if it is a unified Sabah struggle, but ignores one critical fact:
It is leaders within BN, PN and their Malaya-based partners who repeatedly delayed, obstructed, or diluted Sabah’s constitutional rights.
If national parties truly fought for MA63, Sabah would not still be begging for what already belongs to us.
The narrative that defending Sabah’s autonomy is somehow “anti-persekutuan” is dishonest and dangerous.
Sabah’s demands are not anti-Federal Government — they are anti-injustice, anti-penafian hak, and anti-dominasi politik.
Asking for equality is not extremism. Claiming our autonomy is not hostility. It is simply exercising our constitutional rights.
Salleh speaks about “kestabilan politik,” but refuses to acknowledge the true source of instability:
• the 2020 political coup engineered from outside Sabah,
• the continuous meddling of Malayan power brokers, and
• the infiltration of national-party operatives into Sabah’s political landscape.
Let’s be honest: Sabah becomes unstable when national parties interfere in our affairs.
Salleh’s argument that national parties attract investment is also baseless. Investors look for:
• policy certainty,
• respect for agreements,
• strong institutions, and
• fiscal autonomy.
Sabah struggles to attract long-term investment because the Federal Government withholds our revenue, delays key infrastructure funding, and restricts our decision-making power.
If Sabah controlled our own resources — as promised under MA63 — our investment climate would be far more stable and competitive.
Even Johor Understands the Value of Autonomy
Salleh must also answer this:
Why is even the Tunku Mahkota of Johor (TMJ) openly calling for Johor to emulate Sarawak’s model — where no outside party is allowed to dominate the state’s political space?
If the future Sultan of one of Malaysia’s most advanced states defends Johor’s political sovereignty, why should Sabah — a founding partner of Malaysia — be told to surrender ours?
Sarawak rejects external political domination. Johor wants to follow that path.
So why is Salleh insisting Sabah must do the opposite?
The real “politik sempit” is not Sabahans demanding autonomy —
it is leaders who defend Malayan party control at the expense of Sabah’s dignity, identity, and rights.
Salleh's statement reflects an outdated mindset that kept Sabah dependent, voiceless, and underdeveloped. Sabahans today are wiser, more informed, and no longer willing to accept the narrative that our rights are “politik sempit.”
A Sabah governed by Sabahans — like Sarawak, and now even advocated by Johor’s Crown Prince — is not only desirable.
It is essential for a fair, equal, and truly united Malaysia.
Edna Jessica Majimbun is a Former District Chief of Kota Kinabalu and is ¢Warisan candidate for Inanam state constituency#Borneo Herald™
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