SAS activists question legitimacy of Malaysia-US trade pact over Sarawak and Sabah

KUCHING, Oct 6 2025: Rights movement Saya Anak Sarawak (SAS) activists have questioned the legitimacy of the Malaysia-US Reciprocal Trade Agreement (RTA) over Sarawak and Sabah since  it was signed without consulting the two state governments.

SAS leader Peter John Jaban

RTA was signed recently by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the United States (US) President Donald Trump at the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, last month.

They accused the federal government of entering an international pact without the requisite consultation or consent of the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak, saying that such an act is seen as constituting a betrayal of federalism and a direct violation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“This is not our deal. It was not signed with our consent," SAS leader Peter John Jaban said in a joint statement today.

He contended that the federal government's decision-making process is fundamentally flawed and neglects the status of Borneo states as equal partners in the federation.

Another activist Datuk Fabian Wong questioned the legitimacy of the pact, questioning why the deal was signed without the consent of the two Borneo regions. 

“Once again, the federal government has entered an international agreement without consultation or representation from Sabah and Sarawak.

“The federal government, particularly the prime minister, must not make major decisions that affect

our territory without prior consulting the Sarawak government, State Legislative Assembly (SLA) and informing the public,” Wong, a veteran military officer, said.

Datuk Fabian Wong

He insisted that the unilateral decisions made by Putrajaya cannot bind Sabah and Sarawak, and that using Sarawak’s resources as "tribute or collateral" for federal deals is unacceptable.

Wong said the gravest concern raised is the deal’s impact on Borneo’s control over its vital oil and gas resources. 

He highlighted the commitment made by Malaysia, as noted in the White House documentation on the trade agreement, which includes a significant commercial deal involving the purchase of up to five millions tons per annum of liquified natual gas at up to USD3.4 billion through multi-layer agreements with Petronas.

Willam Mangor

He said the deal compels Petronas to purchase the US natural gas, tying the national oil company

to long-term dependence on American suppliers.

“This move strips Sabah and Sarawak of our bargaining power in the negotiation with Petronas over our own oil and gas resources,” he claimed.

He also claimed that the trade pact prohibits Malaysia from protecting or prioritising local industries if it disadvantages the US corporations, thus forcing local farmers, fishermen, and small entrepreneurs in Borneo to compete against the heavily subsidised American agribusiness. 

Another SAS activist William Mangor called for a concrete plan to persuade the Sarawak government and relevant state institutions to act decisively to protect the state’s rights and resources.

He said the sooner this plan is developed and executed, the better.