KUCHING, Nov 30 2025: A social activist Voon Shiak Ni has said that the political failure of Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the just concluded Sabah election is a wake-up call for the federal government to be serious about delivery of Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) for the two Borneo territories .
Voon Shiak Ni: MA63, together with the Federal Constitution, guarantees Borneo’s autonomy in key areas such as immigration, religion, education, health , natural resources, taxation, and local governance.
“During the campaign , we have heard of cries on “ Sabah for Sabahans “ and we have also heard leaders from the federal government who had tried to water down the local sentiments in their campaign speeches and directly insulted the existence of the agreement,” she said in a statement this evening.
Voon said the federal government needs to be reminded that the agreement is not a favour from the federal government .
“It is a binding constitutional covenant that forms the very foundation on which Sabah and Sarawak agreed to form Malaysia.
“MA63, together with the Federal Constitution, guarantees Borneo’s autonomy in key areas such as immigration, religion, education, health , natural resources, taxation, and local governance.
“These safeguards were not negotiable concessions; they were conditions of merger and remain entrenched in constitutional law,” Voon, who is also a practising lawyer, reminded.
She said for decades, many of these rights have been diluted, delayed, or ignored,saying that this is not only a political failure, but it is a breach of constitutional duty.
“As equal partners to the federation, the people of Borneo have the legal rights to demand the full and immediate restoration of all MA63 obligations,” she said.
She told the federal government to stop treating MA63 as a political bargaining chip and start treating it as the binding legal instrument that it is.
“Respecting MA63 is not optional, not subject to changing administrations, and not something to be “considered”—it is a constitutional obligation enforced by the rule of law,” she stressed.
Voon told the federal government that the people of Sabah and Sarawak are just demanding the return of what was promised, codified, and constitutionally protected.
“They are insisting that the federal government restores the full autonomy and entitlements that were guaranteed in 1963.
“Fulfilling MA63 is not just about fairness—it is about legal integrity, historical justice, and honouring the original terms of the federation.
“If Malaysia is to move forward as a truly equal union, then the federal government must demonstrate its immediate and genuine commitment to restoring every right due to the Borneo territories,” she said.
She added that Sarawak is demanding the same from the federal government on MA63 and the most serious issue pending in Sarawak now is the public health issue with the serious shortage of doctors and public hospital facilities.
Voon said as a Sarawakian , she urged hat the issue be addressed immediately by the federal government .
