Issued by Dr Kanul Gindol, Chairman of Gabungan Bebas Merdeka a grouping of 26 Sabah independent candidates for GE16.
Kota Belud, SABAH
KOTA KINABALU: The people of Sabah and Sarawak have waited long enough for true equality, fair representation, and the full spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
For too long, the highest office in our nation has been held almost exclusively by leaders from Malaya. This imbalance must end — now.
We hereby call for:
1. That the Prime Minister of Malaysia for the 16th General Election (GE16) be a leader from Sarawak — in recognition of Sarawak’s vital contribution, growing economic stature, and long-overdue right to lead the federation it helped found.
2. That this be followed by a formal, constitutional arrangement to rotate the office of Prime Minister among three equal partners: Malaya, Sarawak, and Sabah — serving fixed terms of 5 years or 8 years per term, in a fair and agreed sequence.
I have first announced this call in Tuaran on the 14 August, 2026, and am repeating this clarion call today on the occasion of a Meeting or Summit on MA63 held in Kota Kinabalu today, attended by PM Anwar Ibrahim, Sarawak Premier Abang Zohari Openg and Sabah CM Hajiji Noor.
This rotation is not merely symbolic — it is essential to restore trust, uphold MA63, and build a truly united Malaysia where every region sees itself reflected in national leadership. No longer should Sabahans and Sarawakians feel like second-class citizens in the nation they helped build.
Sarawak has the talent, the vision, and the capacity to lead. Sabah stands ready to support Sarawak now — and to take its turn in future. Malaya, too, will benefit from a stronger, more inclusive federation where all three partners share leadership, responsibility, and pride.
We urge all political parties, community leaders, and citizens across our nation to stand together and make this reform a reality. A Malaysia that truly shares power is a Malaysia that will truly endure.
