KOTA KINABALU: March 4, 2026 – A Sabah leader has pushed back strongly against remarks by former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, saying his comments on the proposed Borneo Bloc and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 misrepresent Sabah and Sarawak’s constitutional position within the Federation.
Datuk Kenny Chua said Zaid’s assertion that Sabah and Sarawak were merely British colonies negotiating safeguards from a position of weakness overlooks the legal and historical foundation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Sabah did not join Malaysia as a subordinate state,” Chua said in a statement on Tuesday.
“We entered into a federation under terms that were carefully negotiated and mutually agreed. Our colonial past does not diminish the binding nature of those commitments.”
Chua, president of Bantu Orang Susah Sabah (BOSS), a local NGO, stressed that MA63 was the basis upon which Malaysia was formed in 1963, involving Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore as distinct entities coming together to create a new nation.
Responding to Zaid’s claim that Sabah and Sarawak had historically secured favourable terms and already enjoyed significant leverage at the federal level, Chua said ongoing disputes over oil revenue, territorial waters and constitutional rights suggest otherwise.
“If all safeguards were fully respected and implemented, there would be no need for continuous discussions on restoring rights under MA63,” he said, pointing to longstanding issues involving the Petroleum Development Act and the role of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), as well as Sabah’s 40 per cent net revenue entitlement.
Chua said the call for a Borneo Bloc was not about consolidating power but about strengthening federalism and ensuring that Sabah and Sarawak can effectively advocate for their constitutional rights.
“The formation of a Borneo Bloc is about coordination, not domination,” he said.
“In a fragmented political landscape, it is responsible for leaders from Sabah and Sarawak to work together to safeguard the interests of our people.”
He added that seeking greater parliamentary representation should not be misconstrued as opportunistic.
“Parliamentary seat distribution must reflect fairness, population realities and the spirit of the federation,” he said. “Ensuring adequate representation is part of strengthening Malaysia, not weakening it.”
Chua also rejected suggestions that leaders from Sabah and Sarawak were leveraging their position merely to gain political advantage while leaders in Peninsular Malaysia focused on prime ministerial ambitions.
“This is not about personalities or positions,” he said. “It is about honouring the founding principles of our nation and ensuring that the promises made in 1963 continue to be upheld.”
Chua reiterated that Sabah remains committed to the federation but expects the federal structure to function as originally envisioned under MA63.
