Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Political stability must include Sabah and Sarawak partnership, says ex-CM
A former Sabah chief minister has cautioned against defining national stability solely through the lens of Malay-Muslim unity, stressing the need to incorporate the East Malaysian states into the broader political framework.
LSN Malaysia ·
Former Sabah Chief Minister Salleh has urged policymakers to reconsider how national stability is conceptualized, warning that narrowing the definition to focus exclusively on Malay and Muslim interests risks marginalizing Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia's political equation.
His remarks come as a counterpoint to aspirations within Umno for strengthened Malay and Muslim unity as a pathway to greater political cohesion. While acknowledging the importance of these concerns, Salleh argued that such frameworks cannot serve as the sole determinant of how the nation maintains its stability.
The former chief minister emphasized that any sustainable approach to national unity must recognize the distinct political interests and constitutional positions of Sabah and Sarawak, which joined the Federation under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. The two East Malaysian states bring significant demographic, economic, and cultural diversity to the national canvas.
Salleh's intervention reflects ongoing tensions within Malaysia's federal structure regarding the balance of power between peninsular Malaysia and the East Malaysian territories, particularly regarding resource distribution and political representation in national decision-making processes.