by David E.
KOTA KINABALU: 22 Oct, 2026 – The struggle to defend Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) should not be limited by political party differences, said Sabah STAR Supreme Council member Jin Tze Vun.
He affirmed full support for STAR president and Keningau MP Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Jeffrey G. Kitingan to continue championing the rights of Sabahans at the federal level.
At the same time, Vun appreciated the efforts of former Sabah Law Society (SLS) president Datuk Roger Chin, now a nominated assemblyman, who is using legal channels for the same purpose.
“These two efforts are not contradictory because the ultimate goal is the same, namely to defend Sabah’s rights and future,” he said in a statement here.
Jin Tze Vun, who is also Beaufort parliamentary coordinator and STAR divisional chief, said political leadership and legal action complement each other. To him, the most important thing is not political background, but the extent to which such efforts bring tangible progress to the people of Sabah.
Referring to a public survey on MA63 published on Oct 16, 2026, which estimated that 19.47 per cent of respondents supported MA63, 6.46 per cent did not support it while 74.07 per cent did not state a position – he said that although it is not an official government document and does not represent all of Sabah, it provides some indication of what may exist.
Vun stressed that “not stating a position” does not necessarily mean rejecting MA63. However, the figures show the need for continuous efforts to improve public understanding, especially among the young, of MA63’s history and Sabah’s constitutional position.
The report also showed that 74.53 per cent of respondents in one survey indicator considered political messages related to MA63 to contain rhetorical or “theatrical” elements.
“These findings should serve as a reminder to all political leaders that the people not only want to hear promises, but also want to see action, transparency and results that can be evaluated,” he said.
He added that the people have the right to know what has been achieved, what issues remain unresolved and what the next steps are.
“We cannot keep repeating MA63 slogans in political speeches without explaining to the people the extent to which these rights have been implemented,” he said.
Vun called on all parties in Sabah to pay attention to MA63’s implementation in a mature, united and responsible manner.
“MA63 cannot merely be a political slogan, but must be translated into responsibility and continuous implementation,” he said.
