Focus must be on MA63 implementation

21 January 2026

KOTA KINABALU: President of Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP), Datuk Yong Teck Lee, has emphasised that the struggle for the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) has achieved a significant victory as its status is now finalised and no longer open to dispute. He called for full attention to be given to the implementation aspect by the Federal Government and the Sabah State Government.

He stated that after more than 16 years of consistent advocacy for MA63, including through various political channels and public campaigns, the issue is no longer about recognition but about full compliance with Sabah’s rights as enshrined in the historic agreement.

“MA63 is no longer open for debate. It has been finalised for the benefit of Sabah. What remains now is comprehensive and effective implementation. Failure to comply will generate dissatisfaction among the people, while successful implementation will strengthen Malaysia’s stability and harmony,” he said in a statement today.

Yong explained that the focus on MA63 was openly highlighted by SAPP during the Batu Sapi by-election in October 2010, when the Barisan Nasional (BN) government at the time was finally compelled to recognise MA63 as a legitimate national issue.

According to him, although SAPP did not win that by-election, the campaign succeeded in bringing MA63 to the forefront of national discourse, a recognition that continues today as all political parties in Malaysia acknowledge its importance within the Federal structure.

He also reflected on political developments after the 2008 General Election when BN lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament, opening a new space for Sabah and Sarawak to assert their rights as the support from MPs from both states became decisive in forming the federal government.

“This dependence subsequently led to the establishment of a special ministry to oversee compliance with MA63, reflecting recognition of Sabah and Sarawak’s importance within Malaysia,” he added.

Commenting on the resilience of the party’s political struggle, Yong said SAPP has always emphasised building long-term leadership through youth training and nurturing young talent.

He noted that half of SAPP’s Supreme Council members today are graduates of the party’s youth camps organised over 25 years ago, demonstrating the effectiveness of the party’s strategic planning in developing future leaders.

“Some of these young leaders will emerge as Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen in Sabah in the future, thus strengthening the party’s capacity to serve the people more effectively,” he said.

Yong also stressed that Sabah’s political struggle is a "long march" that requires patience and perseverance, with many key issues only achievable after years of continuous campaigning.

For instance, he said, the declaration of Sabah Day in 2022 was only realised after 12 years of annual campaigns at several key locations including Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang, and Kota Marudu. Similarly, the Double Six air crash report was only declassified in 2023 after 13 years of annual commemoration at the Double Six Memorial in Sembulan.

He added that the Borneanisation campaign for public service also took more than a decade to show significant compliance, with most federal departments in Sabah now led by Sabahans.

Furthermore, a judicial review related to MA63 filed in 2012 and brought to the Federal Court in 2015, although not granted, has opened many Sabah civil servants’ eyes to demanding their rights under MA63.

Looking ahead to the remaining decades until 2030, Yong emphasised that three core struggles must be fully addressed: the return of Labuan to Sabah, the issuance of Sabah ICs, and land reform reform for the benefit of the state’s people.

He stated that these issues demand continuous political will and rakyat’s support to ensure Sabah’s rights are upheld justly and sustainably.

Meanwhile, Yong said the implementation phase of MA63 must be accompanied by a deep understanding of Sabah’s geo-economics, given that the state is not isolated from global changes and upheavals.

He reminded that a new world order is emerging, international law is being rewritten, and economic and trade relationships are increasingly weaponised by major powers, including the use of technology, energy, and food as tools of pressure on civilian populations.

“Although Malaysia as a small nation cannot control these global changes, Sabah can adapt, boost competitiveness, assert territorial rights, and actively engage in regional and international economic relations,” he said.

According to Yong, understanding these global trends is crucial for ensuring Sabah’s long-term growth and prosperity amid an increasingly challenging global economic landscape.