Rights activist urges all to engage on restoration of Sarawak's rights under MA63

KUCHING, May 14 2026: A state rights activist has urged all leaders, civil society groups, and policymakers to continue engaging seriously on the restoration of Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including decentralisation, fiscal autonomy, resource management, education, healthcare, and fair parliamentary representation. 

Caption: State rights activist Peter John Jaban says  policies affecting Sarawak have remained heavily centralised despite the unique realities faced by the people of the state, especially those living in rural and interior areas. 

Peter John Jaban, who is also the founder of Saya Anak Sarawak (SAS), said Sarawak’s future must be shaped by policies that are closer to the realities of its people and respectful of the promises made during the formation of Malaysia.

He supported a statement by Stakan legislative member (SLM) Hamzah Ibrahim on decentralisation of powers to Sarawak, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare, and other matters that many Sarawakian voices have consistently raised over the years.

He said for far too long, policies affecting Sarawak have remained heavily centralised despite the unique realities faced by the people of the state, especially those living in rural and interior areas.

“The centralised system has often failed to address infrastructure gaps, shortages of teachers and medical personnel, unequal development, and the specific educational and healthcare needs of Sarawakians,” he said in a statement.

Peter  has long advocated for the decentralisation of Sarawak’s healthcare system to ensure that rural communities receive better and more efficient healthcare services.

He said he has consistently emphasised that local management would allow more specialised, practical, and fine-tuned solutions compared to a heavily centralised federal approach.

On education, he has argued that meaningful reform cannot be effectively implemented through a one-size-fits-all centralised system.

He said he has repeatedly urged the federal government to return greater control over education policies to Sabah and Sarawak, in line with the spirit and provisions of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Peter said he has also consistently highlighted the need for the full restoration of Sarawak’s rights, including greater control over  oil and gas resources, fiscal autonomy, and development planning.

He opposed excessive federal centralisation and believes that local authorities in Sarawak should be given greater authority to manage educational, healthcare, and infrastructure according to local realities and priorities.

“Sarawak deserves greater authority to manage its own education system so that policies can better reflect local history, culture, language diversity, and economic priorities.

“Likewise, healthcare administration should be decentralised to allow more efficient planning, better rural outreach, and faster responses to the needs of remote communities.

“We also hope that more funds will be allocated to establish technical and skills-training colleges across various parts of Sarawak instead of having such institutions concentrated mainly along the Kuching–Lundu stretch,” he added.

“More technical colleges should be developed throughout the state, from Kuching to Lawas, so that more school leavers can gain access to skills training and improve their employability opportunities.

“At present, many of these institutions are concentrated within the Kuching–Lundu corridor. Greater attention should therefore be given to expanding technical and vocational education facilities to other regions, including the Limbang Division,” Peter said.

He added Sarawak needs a stronger and more comprehensive education and skills-training system rather than continuously depending on yearly allocations without long-term structural planning.

“Modern education also requires the government to allocate sufficient funding for in service teacher training and professional development.

“If the government truly wishes to improve the educational outcomes and future prospects of the nation’s youth, serious attention must be given to the retraining and upskilling of teachers.

“The demand for one-third parliamentary representation is not an act of division but a constitutional and historical matter tied to the original formation of Malaysia.  

“Sarawak and Sabah were founding partners in the Federation, not merely ordinary states within Malaya’s administrative structure.

“Fair representation is essential to ensure that the voices of the Borneo states are protected in national decision-making processes,” Peter said.

 

 

State government urged to discuss with federal govt, airline companies to find solutions to reduce cost of airline tickets

KUCHING, May 14 2026: Stakan state legislative member (SLM) Hamzah Brahim has requested the State Government to continue play a proactive role in negotiating with the federal government and airline companies to find a more harmonious solution for all parties on airline tickets for flights from Malaya to Sarawak.

 

Caption: Stakan SLM Hamzah Brahim proposes three initiatives for consideration by the state government

He said the costs of airline tickets during the festive season remain a matter close to the hearts of Sarawakians abroad, especially students and workers residing in Malaya.

“I would like to propose three initiatives for the state government’s consideration, firstly. stabilising Ceiling Prices,” he said during the debate on the Royal Address in the state legislative assembly (SLA) today.

He said the state government should discuss with the aviation authorities to coordinate the ceiling price mechanism in advance to avoid sudden price spikes ahead of the festive season.

He also suggested that the number of aircraft, proposing collaboration with airlines to increase the number of aircraft and frequency of flights to Sarawak during peak times to accommodate high demand and stabilize ticket prices.

He also requested that the existing subsidy initiative for students studying outside the state be expanded to the low-income Sarawakian workers abroad to ease their burden.

 

Demand for one-third of parliamentary seats is about "veto right", says Stakan YB

KUCHING, May 14 2026: Stakan state legislative member (SLM) Hamzah Brahim has urged the state government to demand for a one-third of the parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah.

Caption: Stakan SLM Hamzah Ibrahim says that Sarawak must consistently push for decentralisation of education and health powers 

“This is not just about numbers, but about the "veto right" to ensure that the Federal Constitution cannot be amended alone by the peninsula without the consent of the Borneo Region,” he said in his speech during the debate on the Royal Address in the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.

“ It is the last bastion to guarantee that Sarawak's identity and rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) are not violated.

“In addition, we must consistently push for the decentralization of education and health powers,” Hamzah asserted.

He also said reminded that Sarawak can no longer be shackled by the Putrajaya bureaucracy in dealing with the issue of dilapidated schools and clinics.

“We also demand full power in the recruitment of teachers through the 90:10 policy as well as administrative autonomy to ensure that the service system is adapted to the unique geographical and demographic needs of our people.

“This struggle is about dignity and sovereignty,” he stressed.