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Borneo Herald
10.10AM MYT, 2-12-2025
By Peter John Jaban
KOTA KINABALU : As an activist defending the rights of the people of Sabah and Sarawak, i wish to make a strong statement regarding the results of the 2025 Sabah State Election and the ongoing political trends in Sarawak.
In the 2025 Sabah state election, Pakatan Harapan (PH) won only 1 out of 73 seats.
The Democratic Action Party (DAP), one of PH’s main components, lost all 8 contested seats. This is not merely a defeat it is a direct political rebuke from the people of Sabah.
This is a Clear Wave of Public Rejection.
Sabah voters, particularly urban Chinese and local communities, rejected PH because:
Promises of local development were unfulfilled,
PH failed to understand Sabah’s realities,
National agendas were prioritized over local voices.
The “Sabah First” Justice for Sabah, Sabah for Sabahans and TOLAK PARTY MALAYA trend is growing stronger. The people are choosing local parties that truly represent their identity, interests, and needs. PH has failed to adapt and has proven irrelevant in Sabah.
In Sarawak, Dayak voters and indigenous communities have long rejected PKR due to their failure to address local concerns.
Election results clearly show that Peninsular-centered political approaches are not accepted in Borneo States.
PH risks losing more marginal seats in Sarawak if it continues to ignore local voices. This is not a warning this is a fact.
Constitutional Rights and Resource Control Must Be Respected because Sabah and Sarawak have rights to autonomy, natural resources, and special status under MA63. These rights are not gifts from Putrajaya, nor discretionary favors they must be respected.
Management of oil, gas, and other natural resources must prioritize the people of the states, not the political interests of the federal government.
Any attempt to undermine these rights will trigger organized political resistance.
The federal leadership, and any political party, must understand.
Sabah and Sarawak are no longer peripheral regions that can be treated as political testing grounds.
Local voters will no longer accept rhetoric, empty promises, or populist Peninsular-centered politics.
The time to respect Borneo’s rights and voices has arrived, or the people will act for themselves.
As an activist defending Sabah and Sarawak rights, I urge Putra Jaya to respect the decisions of the people and the autonomy of the states and
return the rights of Sabah & Sarawak that remain unfulfilled.
Stop marginalizing Borneo States for national political gain.
The people of Sabah and Sarawak will no longer submit silently. They demand justice, integrity, and dignity. As an activist, I stand with them until their rights are fully restored.
Enough is enough.
Borneo States is no longer a playground for Peninsular political experiments.
Peter John Jaban is a Sarawak Rights Activist.#Borneo Herald™
