Picture Credit: Borneo Herald

 

 

Two NGO lay down 11-Point Demand for ending calls for independence of Sabah and Sarawak.

 

PRESS STATEMENT . . . 

The Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia New Zealand (SSRANZ) and Republic of Sabah North Borneo (RSNB), both NGO, have issued Press Statement on the demands in Sabah and Sarawak for independence.

 

SSRANZ and RSNB said that "Malaysia's legitimacy will remain in doubt as long as the validity of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) along with the unresolved Philippines' claim on Sabah, were not addressed". 

 

"Even if MA63 was deemed valid, the numerous breaches of its fundamental terms by Malaya, effectively amount to a unilateral termination of the agreement, which entitles Sabah and Sarawak to exit the federation."

 

The attempt to criminalise peaceful protests and suppress the legitimate demands of Sabah and Sarawak will only intensify calls for independence, cautioned the Press Statement. The NGO reaffirm that Sabah and Sarawak, like Singapore, have the inalienable right to self-determination and will pursue independence if their grievances continue to be ignored.

 

However, the NGO said that they are prepare to consider ceasing advocating for independence if the following conditions are met by the federal government:

 

Seek an International Court of Justice (ICJ) review of the validity of MA63 and legitimacy of Malaysia's formation in the light of the ICJ ruling in the 2019 Chagos Island Case, that colonies were not sovereign state with legal capacity to make binding international agreements and to abide but its decision on whether MA63 was binding. If not binding, then decolonise Sabah & Sarawak.

 

Restore the MA63 secular system by repealing ACT 354 and dismantle the anti-human rights New Economic Policy (NEP) race-religion based institutions which have used apartheid-like policies to discriminate against Sabah and Sarawak and their people for decades.

 

The immediate implementation of Borneonisation in the civil service and education sectors and withdraw all federal officials to empower Sabah and Sarawak with real self-government and autonomy as agreed.

 

Restore full immigration powers to Sabah and Sarawak in their original form.

 

Return control over oil and gas resources to Sabah and Sarawak.

 

Transfer of all Petronas’ assets to Sabah and Sarawak to compensate for 61 years of resource loss and development opportunities.

 

Full restoration of MA63 rights, including the repeal or amendment of the Continental Shelf Act 1966, Petroleum Development Act 1974, and Territorial Sea Act 2012.

 

Restoration of 34.6 per cent parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak.

 

Withdraw all Malayan political parties from Sabah and Sarawak.

 

Resolve the Philippines’ Sabah claim which challenges the legitimacy of Malaysia, pursuant to the Manila Accord 1963. 

 

Resolve Sabah refugees problem by repatriation to their homelands or to Malaya.

Signed 30 September 2024 

 

Robert Pei 

President of Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia New Zealand (SSRANZ)

 

Mosses Anap

President of Republic of Sabah North Borneo (RSNB)#

 

 

 

The rest of the Press Statement can be read here . . .

https://www.borneoherald.com/2024/10/ssranz-rsnbs-response-to-malaysian-igp.html

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in the Press Statement do not necessarily represent those of the Center for Policy Initiatives (CPI).