Kota Kinabalu, Wednesday, 21 January 2026:
After sixteen years of championing MA63, SAPP hereby declares the issue has been resolved in favour of Sabah. MA63 is no longer open for debate and now concerns only implementation. The Sabah and Federal governments must ensure full compliance. Failure to do so will trigger public dissatisfaction, while successful implementation will strengthen stability and harmony in Malaysia.
The focus on MA63 was highlighted by SAPP during the Batu Sapi by-election in October 2010, when the then ruling Barisan Nasional was forced to recognise MA63 as a national issue. Although SAPP did not win the by-election, the campaign successfully highlighted MA63 to the national mainstream. Today, every political party in Malaysia recognises its importance.
The year 2008 presented a window of opportunity for Sabah rights, as Barisan Nasional lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority and needed MPs from Sabah and Sarawak to maintain a simple majority in Parliament.
A dedicated ministry was then established to oversee MA63 compliance, reflecting the reliance of the federal government on these Borneo states.
Half of SAPP Supreme Council are Youth Camp Graduates
To ensure resilience of political struggle, SAPP has been training future leaders. Half of today’s party Supreme Council members are graduates of SAPP youth camps from more than 25 years ago. This long-term cultivation of leadership and resilience is part of the party’s culture. Some of these young leaders will eventually become Members of Parliament and Sabah Legislative Assembly, which will further strengthen efforts to serve Sabahans effectively.
Political long march: Labuan, Sabah IC and Land Reform
Political struggle is a long march, and several key Sabah issues have taken years to realise. Sabah Day, for example, required twelve years of annual campaigning at Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang, and Kota Marudu before it was officially declared in 2022. The Double Six Air Crash report was declassified in 2023 after thirteen years of annual commemoration at the Double Six memorial in Sembulan.
The campaign for Borneonisation of the public service took more than ten years before substantial compliance was seen, with most federal departments in Sabah now headed by Sabahans. A judicial review case filed in 2012 went all the way to the Federal Court in 2015. Although leave was not granted to the plaintiffs Bernard Fung (a retiredpoliceman) and Nazib Maidan (an ex teacher), the court case attracted widespread attention and encouraged Sabahans in public service to assert their rights under MA63.
For the remainder of this decade until 2030, the three remaining core struggles are the return of Labuan, issuance of Sabah ICs, and land reforms for Sabahans.
Sabah’s geoeconomics is the way forward
With MA63 now entering the implementation phase, our attention turns to the geoeconomics of Sabah. Sabah is not exempted from the global events. Many of us do not yet realise that a new world order is descending upon us international laws are being re-written. Global trends are being shaped. Economic and trade relations are being weaponised by powerful nations. Technology, energy and food have been weaponised against civilian populations.
While Malaysia, as a small nation, cannot control these changes, Sabah can adapt, enhance competitiveness, assert territorial rights, and engage effectively in regional and international economic relations. Understanding these trends is essential for Sabah’s long-term growth and prosperity.
Datuk Yong Teck Lee
President, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP)