We, the undersigned Sabah and Sarawak civil society organisations and activists, welcome and accept Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud’s invitation to dialogue.
We are prepared to engage constructively and in good faith on the future of the Malaysian federation.
For such dialogue to be meaningful, it should address not only the implementation of outstanding Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) commitments, but also the broader historical, constitutional and legal questions concerning Malaysia’s formation and the position of Sabah and Sarawak within the federation.
Recent public discussion, including issues raised in Parliament by Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin and comments by former Minister Zaid Ibrahim, demonstrates that these questions should be capable of open and peaceful discussion.
In particular, we believe meaningful dialogue should be prepared to examine:
whether the formation of Malaysia fulfilled the requirements of decolonisation, self-determination and the free and informed consent of the peoples of Sabah and Sarawak;
the legal status, validity and fulfilment of MA63 and the constitutional safeguards associated with the original federal arrangements;
the nature and future of the federal relationship between Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya; and how the peoples of Sabah and Sarawak may freely express their contemporary political will, including discussion of appropriate democratic mechanisms.
We approach these matters without seeking to prejudge the outcome. Our position is that questions concerning Malaysia’s founding basis, MA63 and the future federal relationship should be examined peacefully, transparently publicly and with reference to historical evidence, constitutional principles, international law and democratic consent.
CLARIFICATION CONCERNING THE JALUR GEMILANG
We also wish to clarify the circumstances surrounding SSKM’s display of the Malaysian national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, upside down in Melbourne on 24 October 2026.
The gesture has been misunderstood in some quarters.
SSKM’s intention was not to insult Malaysia, its people or the national flag. The inverted flag was used symbolically as a signal of distress, intended to draw attention to what SSKM regards as the continuing political, constitutional and socio-economic plight of Sabah and Sarawak within Malaysia.
No offence or disrespect was intended.
We hope this clarification will allow attention to return to the substantive issues and to the opportunity for peaceful and constructive dialogue.
GOOD FAITH AND FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ADVOCACY
As a practical demonstration of good faith, we call upon the Malaysian Government and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to lift the blocking of SSKM’s Facebook platform.
Peaceful political advocacy should not be penalised merely because it advances views that challenge or question existing constitutional arrangements.
Restoring access would be a constructive confidence-building measure and would demonstrate that the proposed dialogue is intended to be open, inclusive and conducted without punitive restrictions on peaceful expression.
The purpose of dialogue should be to hear differing views, not to suppress them.
AN INCLUSIVE BORNEO DIALOGUE
We believe that any dialogue concerning the future federal relationship should be inclusive.
Participation should not be confined to SSRANZ, SSKM and RSNB. We propose that relevant Sabah and Sarawak NGOs, political parties, community representatives and peaceful activists who share similar concerns, sentiments and aspirations should have an opportunity to participate or be appropriately represented.
A broad and inclusive process would allow the Malaysian Government to hear directly the range of views existing within Borneo and would strengthen the credibility and usefulness of the dialogue.
Development funding and administrative concessions remain important, but they cannot substitute for serious engagement with fundamental questions concerning the federal relationship and the freely expressed will of the peoples of Sabah and Sarawak.
We therefore welcome the Minister’s invitation and are ready to discuss appropriate arrangements, participation, agenda and rules of engagement.
Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) will liaise with the Government concerning the proposed dialogue.
We now await the Minister’s reply and look forward to constructive engagement.
Issued jointly by: Robert Pei SSRANZ President on behalf of:
Sabah&Sarawak Rights Australia New Zealand (SSRANZ)
Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM)
Republic of Sabah North Borneo (RSNB)
and supporting Sabah and Sarawak civil society organisations and activists
