Nominated assemblyman Roger Chin pledges to stay independent

3 December 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Nominated assemblyman Datuk Roger Chin has pledged to maintain full independence in carrying out his duties, assuring the public that his appointment to the Sabah State Legislative Assembly will not deter him from speaking up on key issues.

In a Facebook post, Chin expressed gratitude for the messages of support he received following the announcement of his appointment, while acknowledging concerns about whether he would remain free from political influence.

“I know many are concerned — will I still be able to speak up? Will I be compromised? Let me say this as clearly as I can — I am not a member of any political party. I was brought in as a professional, not as someone politically affiliated.

“My independence is intact, and it will remain that way. If anything, this role gives me a firmer platform to speak up when it truly matters,” he said.

Chin, a former Sabah Law Society president, was the driving force behind the landmark High Court decision ordering the Federal Government to return 40 per cent of Sabah’s revenue entitlement under its special constitutional grant.

He said he accepted the nomination after receiving assurances that the position was not political in nature and that he would retain full autonomy in his legislative work.

The role of nominated assemblyman, he noted, exists to bring professional expertise and to represent communities and issues that are often underrepresented in the Assembly.

“A lot of people also asked why I accepted the appointment, especially since I wasn’t given much time to consider it. The truth is that once I understood what was really being asked of me, the decision became clearer,” he said.

Chin said his long-standing advocacy for the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and related constitutional matters compelled him to move from external criticism to direct participation in the legislative process.

“For years, I’ve been fighting for MA63 — writing column pieces, raising issues, and pushing for change from the outside. But I eventually realised that if I truly want to help finish what we started, I need to be on the platform where laws are made — not just critiquing from the outside, but negotiating directly where decisions are shaped,” he said.

He reiterated his commitment to continue raising matters of public interest and to stand firm on principles he has long championed.

“I will continue to speak out, and I will continue to stand my ground. Independence isn’t just a condition for me — it’s the entire reason I accepted this responsibility in the first place,” he added.