KUCHING: It is a fact that Sarawak and Sabah entered and formed Malaysia as founding partners, not as subordinate states.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Secretary-General, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, said that both the Bornean regions formed Malaysia as the founding partners through the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He emphasised that Malaysia did not come into existence through the expansion of the Federation of Malaya.
“It was created through MA63, a solemn international agreement under which Sarawak, Sabah, Singapore and Malaya agreed to establish a new federation. That fact cannot be rewritten, diluted, or dismissed for political convenience.
“For far too long, political discourse in Kuala Lumpur has been shaped by a narrow Peninsular-centric perspective that overlooks the constitutional safeguards, historical realities, and legitimate aspirations of the Borneo territories.
“When Members of Parliament from Sarawak and Sabah cooperate to advance common interests, this is suddenly portrayed as opportunistic politics. Such criticism misses the point entirely,” he said in a statement today (Mar 5).
This follows the recent remarks by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim criticising the role of the Borneo Bloc that reveal a troubling misunderstanding of the constitutional structure of Malaysia and the historical foundations upon which the federation was formed.
Sebastian noted that the so-called Borneo Bloc is not a political invention.
He said it is a natural and legitimate expression of federal representation by leaders who recognise their duty to safeguard the rights, autonomy, and resources of their respective regions within the federation.
“If anything, the emergence of a more coordinated voice from Sabah and Sarawak reflects a long overdue awakening to constitutional realities.
“It signals that East Malaysian representatives are no longer prepared to remain passive while decisions affecting their territories are shaped elsewhere without adequate regard for the spirit and safeguards embedded in 1963,” he explained.
Furthermore, the SUPP Secretary-General reminded those who dismiss the Borneo Bloc should first revisit the constitutional history of Malaysia.
“They should recognise that many of the tensions being discussed today arise precisely because the foundational principles of MA63 were allowed to drift from their original intent over the decades.
“Sarawak remains firmly committed to Malaysia. However, that commitment is anchored in the understanding that Malaysia is a federation of partners, not a hierarchy of centre and periphery,” he said.
Sebastian stressed that voices from both Bornean regions should not be feared or criticised, but should be understood as a legitimate effort to restore the balance envisaged at the birth of the federation.
“A mature federation does not silence regional voices. It respects them, and ultimately, Malaysia will stay united to move forward,” he concluded.
