Sabah holds its legislative assembly election today.
But this local contest is high stakes for the ruling government, as Sabah and neighbouring Sarawak, push for more autonomy and funds, granted by Malaysia’s founding document, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 or MA63.
Sabah and Sarawak have long complained that though they provide much of Malaysia’s oil wealth, developmental funds have not been equitable.
Instead, East Malaysians feel they are treated as the “poor cousins” of the peninsula. But since the 2022 general election, these two territories now hold more leverage.
Sabah and Sarawak parties are key components of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s “Madani” coalition government. The Madani government has resolved some of the disagreements around MA63 on issues like education and public utilities and is working to settle others.
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But some matters, like oil-revenue sharing, continue to be sticking points. How will Anwar accommodate the increasingly assertive demands of East Malaysian nationalist parties?
00:00 – Introduction
01:22 – Underdevelopment in Sabah and Sarawak
06:12 – MA63’s role in Sabah and Sarawak’s identity
08:25 – What the MA63 promised East Malaysia
11:09 – 1976 amendment: Erosion of East Malaysia’s status
14:22 – Why East Malaysia needs more development funds
18:59 – Who shares in Malaysia’s oil wealth?
22:29 – Calls to restore the original Malaysia Agreement
25:41 – Political shifts boost East Malaysia’s clout
28:33 – Sabah and Sarawak’s push for ‘equal partnership’
33:46 – Should East Malaysia have more seats in Parliament?
35:14 – Sarawak’s grievances
37:27 – Importance of Sabah’s election
40:24 – Can the current government resolve MA63 disagreements?
43:15 – On Sabah’s 40% revenue rebate
Produced by: CNA Insider
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
