Kota Kinabalu, 12 February 2026
Sabahans are waiting for some form of response from the Sabah government to the instant approval of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to the unexpected announcement by Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Modi to set up a consulate of India in Sabah.
It has been four days ever since the joint press conference by the two prime ministers that announced the proposed Indian consulate. But the Sabah government has remained tight-lipped. I find this silence of the Sabah government very odd because the setting up of a foreign mission in any state in Malaysia, as a matter of precedents and good administration, comes with the concurrence of the state government concerned. This unusual silence has unfortunately given rise to speculation and negative views in social media about the proposed Indian consulate.
Was the Sabah government consulted? Or was the Sabah government caught off guard by the news of the proposed Indian consulate in Sabah? What is the opinion of the Sabah government on the setting up of the Indian consulate in Sabah?
Diplomatic missions uplift Sabah profile
My opinion is that the setting up of more diplomatic missions in Sabah will uplift the international profile of Sabah and boost Sabah’s international trade and tourism. Just last month, Singapore has also announced a Singaporean consulate to be set up at Kota Kinabalu this year. Indonesia, Japan, Brunei, China and Korea already have diplomatic missions in Sabah.
As for India, it is already an economic powerhouse that offers a huge market for Sabah’s palm oil, agricultural produce and other products. Like Sabah, India is an English-speaking commonwealth country with a similar legal system and business laws. India’s rapid advances in science and technology and medicines can also be relevant to Sabah’s progress. It is up to us Sabahans to take advantage of the strengths of other countries.
But why are our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of International Trade and our own Sabah government keeping so quiet? By now, both the federal and Sabah governments should have laid out the benefits and basic nature of the proposed Indian diplomatic mission, just like other consulates, in Sabah.
The proposed Indian consulate can be explained in the context of bilateral strengthening of Malaysia – India relations. Afterall, Malaysia has a trade agreement with India.
Unlike our (Sabah) major trading partners such as China, Japan, Korea, Australia and ASEAN countries, India is not a member of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership). What India and Malaysia have is a direct, bilateral trade agreement (Malaysia – India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement). Hence, direct economic relations with India can be strengthened and can benefit Sabah.
Datuk Yong Teck Lee
President, SAPP
Ex-Chief Minister