PBS Leader Supports Armizan’s Call to Honour Sabah’s Unique Political Model

30 April 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The leadership of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Pakatan Harapan Plus (GRS+PH Plus) State Government must be permitted to continue discussions founded on mutual respect and consensus, free from external interference, said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Supreme Council Member Datuk Fredian Gan.

Gan expressed strong backing for GRS Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali’s recent stance that the Federal Unity Government model should not be imposed on Sabah, describing such moves as contrary to the spirit of Malaysia’s formation.

“I fully support Datuk Armizan’s position. As he rightly pointed out, the memorandum of understanding signed in December 2022 between five political coalitions was solely intended for the formation of the Federal Government,” Gan stated today.

He emphasised that Sabah’s distinctive political arrangements should be recognised and respected, just as similar autonomy is esteemed in Sarawak and Johor.

“The longstanding political respect accorded to Sarawak, and more recently Sabah, contributes significantly to Malaysia’s unique democratic framework. Imposing the Federal model on Sabah disregards the principle of equal partnership between Sabah, Sarawak, and Malaya, as enshrined in the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.

Gan warned that coercing Sabah into adopting the Federal power-sharing formula would undermine the foundational trust that sustains the current State Government.

He also referenced the brief political manoeuvre known as “Langkah Kinabalu” as a breach of that trust, warning that rewarding such an attempted coup with power-sharing would set a dangerous precedent.

“The GRS - PH Plus Sabah Government is built on mutual trust. Attempts to undermine this, such as Langkah Kinabalu, must be categorically rejected. Forcing a Federal-style unity government onto Sabah would be viewed as legitimising and rewarding that betrayal,” he stated.

Gan reaffirmed his strong support for Armizan’s “principled stance,” deeming it vital to safeguarding Sabah’s political stability and respecting the intentions of Malaysia’s founding fathers.

“This is not merely about political arrangements. It is about upholding the values that define Sabah’s place within the Malaysian Federation,” he added.