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 Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks urging Malaysians to reject racial divisiveness, strengthen national unity, and combat corruption and abuse of power.
BoPiMaFo agrees that Malaysia cannot build a stable, prosperous and united future upon racial fear, hatred or division. Likewise, corruption, abuse of power and the misuse of public resources have deprived countless Malaysians of opportunities for economic progress, social development and a better quality of life.
These are important national concerns that deserve the support of every Malaysian.
However, BoPiMaFo respectfully submits that genuine national renewal requires more than rejecting racial politics. It also requires the Government to faithfully honour the constitutional foundations upon which the Federation of Malaysia was established.
Sabah and Sarawak did not join Malaysia merely as ordinary States within an enlarged federation. They became founding partners in the Federation of Malaysia on the basis of fundamental assurances and constitutional promises that their security, constitutional autonomy, democratic institutions, economic development and the rights of their peoples would be respected and protected.
These assurances were reflected in the constitutional arrangements accompanying the formation of Malaysia. Article VIII of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 contemplated the implementation of the constitutional safeguards and recommendations agreed before Malaysia was formed.
Those commitments were intended to build mutual trust between the founding territories and to ensure that the Federation would develop upon the principles of constitutional government, justice, equality and mutual respect.
More than six decades later, many Sabahans continue to believe that important constitutional issues remain unresolved. These include the full implementation of Sabah’s constitutional safeguards, the State’s special financial arrangements, the protection of Sabah’s constitutional autonomy over immigration, the integrity of the National Registration Department and the electoral process, and the effective implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry concerning illegal immigrants in Sabah.
These are not racial demands.
They are constitutional questions that go to the very integrity of the Malaysian Federation.
BoPiMaFo further believes that corruption and constitutional non-compliance often reinforce one another. Where public institutions fail to operate with transparency, accountability and fidelity to the Constitution, public confidence inevitably declines. Conversely, governments that uphold the rule of law, respect constitutional obligations and administer public resources with integrity strengthen both democracy and national unity.
For Sabah, the path towards a stronger Malaysia requires two parallel commitments.
First, respecting, honouring and faithfully implementing the fundamental assurances and constitutional promises upon which Sabah agreed to form Malaysia, particularly those concerning the safeguarding of Sabah’s security, democratic institutions, constitutional autonomy and sustainable economic development for the well-being of its people.
Second, an uncompromising commitment to eradicate corruption, abuse of power, unlawful enrichment and every form of mismanagement that deprives Sabahans of the resources needed for sustainable economic development, quality education, accessible healthcare, modern infrastructure, employment opportunities and a better standard of living.
These two commitments are inseparable.
A secure Sabah without integrity in government cannot achieve its full potential. Equally, good governance cannot fully flourish if the constitutional commitments that form the very foundation of the Federation are left unfulfilled.
Malaysia’s future should therefore not be framed merely as a choice between rejecting racial politics and fighting corruption. It must also include a steadfast commitment to honouring the constitutional promises that gave birth to the Federation itself.
Only by combining constitutional justice, national integrity and accountable governance can Malaysia realise the vision of a united, prosperous and confident Federation for present and future generations.
