Warisan warmly welcomes and fully supports the
Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s speech delivered in Parliament, which
serves as a timely and necessary reminder of the foundational
principles upon which Malaysia was formed.
His
Majesty’s emphasis on unity, mutual respect, constitutional
responsibility and the primacy of national interest is deeply aligned
with the original spirit and intent of the Malaysia Agreement 1963
(MA63).
Malaysia
was not formed by accident. It was formed through MA63 — a solemn
constitutional compact that united Tanah Melayu, Sabah and Sarawak as
equal partners and this historical reality must never be diluted,
forgotten or selectively remembered.
While
MA63 successfully brought together three distinct regions under one
Federation, it also imposed a moral and constitutional obligation on
political leaders to treat Sabah with dignity, respect and equality
and to refrain from parochial attitudes whenever they engage with
Sabah and its people.
The
MADANI Government must always remember that Sabah and Sarawak agreed
to form Malaysia on the basis of clearly negotiated safeguards,
rights and constitutional guarantees. These guarantees were not
symbolic gestures — they were the very conditions upon which the
Federation was built and failure to honour them undermines trust in
the Federal system itself.
In
this regard, Warisan reiterates its firm position that the Federal
Government must not appeal against the High Court’s decision on
Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement. While the Federal Government has
the legal right to appeal, constitutional legitimacy must prevail
over technicality.
Sabah
and Sarawak joined the Federation based on clear promises under MA63
and returning to the spirit and letter of that agreement must be the
reset for past mistakes. Persisting with the appeal will only deepen
distrust hence, the Federal Government must cease the appeal and
honour its constitutional commitment in good faith.
By
now, MADANI Government should had also learn its lesson and respected
the growing disillusionment among the Sabahans with the prolonged
delay on the constitutional entitlement that was clearly reflected in
the recent Sabah State Election when Pakatan Harapan was wiped out.
Warisan
also fully supports and thanks the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his
principled reminder that while state rights must be respected,
national interests remain paramount. These two objectives are not
contradictory — they are mutually reinforcing.
The
40% entitlement is not merely a fiscal claim; it is a strategic
economic necessity for Sabah. Sabah's perfect geographical position
at the heart of ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region places it in a
prime position to emerge as Asia’s next trade and investment
gateway. However, this potential cannot be realised or tapped while
Sabah continues to struggle with dilapidated roads, unstable
electricity supply, irregular water access and recurring floods that
severely inhibit economic growth.
Flooding
alone costs Sabah millions of ringgit annually in infrastructure
damage, disrupted logistics and lost productivity. Without adequate
fiscal capacity, these structural problems will persist, discouraging
investment and stunting development.
From
a broader economic perspective, fulfilling Sabah’s constitutional
40% entitlement should be viewed by the Prime Minister and the
Federal Government as an investment, not a cost. Improved
infrastructure and investment readiness in Sabah will attract both
foreign and domestic investors to establish manufacturing, logistics
and downstream industries.
While
these investors may initially benefit from tax incentives, the
Federal Government will, in the long run, enjoy increased revenue
through personal income tax, export duties, consumption taxes and
expanded economic activity. Job creation in Sabah will also reduce
the forced migration of Sabahan youths to Kuala Lumpur, Johor and
Selangor, thereby easing urban congestion and social pressures in
Peninsular Malaysia.
Finally,
while His Majesty’s speech rightly cautions Members of Parliament
to maintain decorum and avoid incitement, I respectfully asserts that
the responsibility does not rest solely on Sabah's Parliamentarians.
The MADANI Government must also demonstrate equal discipline and
sincerity in the execution and implementation of MA63.
What
has been agreed constitutionally must be implemented without further
delay — no more rhetoric, no more political drama and no more
procedural filibustering.
Warisan
remains steadfast in its commitment to defend Sabah’s
constitutional rights within the framework of the Federal
Constitution, in full respect of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the rule
of law and the collective future of Malaysia.
Christopher
Masudal
Strategic
Communication Director
Parti
Warisan
