By Daniel John Jambun, President Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
KOTA KINABALU: Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) has taken note of the recent remarks by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad urging Malays to vote only for Malay candidates out of concern that Malays may otherwise lose “Tanah Melayu.”
BoPiMaFo respectfully disagrees with such a proposition.
Malaysia was never intended to be a nation where citizens choose their leaders solely on the basis of race.
The Federation was established upon a written Constitution that seeks to uphold the rule of law, constitutional government, democratic representation, and harmony among its diverse peoples.
The Federal Constitution recognises the special position of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak under Article 153 while simultaneously protecting the legitimate interests of all other communities.
These constitutional provisions were designed to promote justice, balance and national unity—not to encourage racial polarisation during elections.
Likewise, Sabah and Sarawak entered the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 upon specific constitutional guarantees and fundamental assurances contained in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the Inter-Governmental Committee Report and the Federal Constitution.
These constitutional arrangements were intended to unite the peoples of Malaysia through mutual respect and constitutional fidelity, not through appeals based on race.
BoPiMaFo believes that when any political leader, regardless of stature or past office, urges citizens to vote primarily on racial considerations, such a message risks weakening the spirit of constitutional democracy and national cohesion.
Malaysia’s greatest challenges today are not the existence of different races living together peacefully.
They are corruption, abuse of power, declining institutional integrity, rising living costs, unequal development, and the continued failure to honour important constitutional commitments, particularly those affecting Sabah and Sarawak.
The people should therefore be encouraged to evaluate leaders on their integrity, competence, commitment to the Constitution, respect for the rule of law, and ability to improve the lives of all Malaysians—not merely on their ethnicity.
For Sabahans, constitutional issues remain paramount. The full implementation of MA63, the protection of Sabah’s constitutional rights, the integrity of the electoral process, accountable governance, and equitable economic development are concerns shared by all citizens irrespective of race or religion.
BoPiMaFo respectfully calls upon Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and all political leaders to exercise their considerable influence in a manner that strengthens national unity, reinforces public confidence in constitutional democracy, and promotes a Malaysia where every citizen is treated with dignity and equal respect under the law.
Malaysia’s future will not be secured through politics of fear or racial division.
It will be secured through constitutional government, strong and independent institutions, respect for diversity, faithful adherence to the Constitution, and leadership that unites rather than divides the nation.
