Investigation will be initiated if there is a report lodged against Zaid, Home Minister says

KOTA SAMARAHAN, Nov 29 2025: Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has said investigation will be initiated if there is any police report lodged against former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim over his call for the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to be annulled and for Sarawak and Sabah to be made independent from Malaysia.

Saifuddin Nasution Ismail: No police report has been lodged against Zaid Ibrahim so far
 

In a podcast which was widely viralled on social media, Zaid also described Sarawak and Sabah were as  “burdens” left behind by the United Kingdom to Malaysia.

“We are waiting for the report. When someone makes a report, we will see under which Act and Section,” Saifuddin told reporters.

”As long as it has not happened (lodging report), we will comment further,” he said after officiating at the handing over of village adoption Madani programme at Kampung Sindang here.

Asked if the former minister could create unrest between Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak with his remarks, Saifuddin said:

“I can only comment on the government's stance on MA63. The federal government's commitment was translated through the appointment of Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof to chair a meeting between the federal government and Sabah and Sarawak regarding the commitment to implement the matters sealed in the agreement.

“Much progress has been achieved,” he said, adding that the federal government's commitment to the agreement must be assessed based on the implementation of what were agreed.

“Our focus is on what has not been fulfilled and what constraints need to be overcome,” he said.

“If there are comments by any individual (written or unwritten) that could affect good relations, and I invite the people to evaluate leaders like this.

“This is a leader who is already “outgoing”. He has his prime time. He was a member of parliament, had been a minister. He knows the legal background,” Saifuddin said.

“There is no reason to create unrest when the Madani government is focused on fulfilling what has been agreed.

“The people can evaluate leaders who do not show the importance of maintaining peace by controlling speech on matters that do not bring good,” he said.

Speaking during the debate on the 2026 State Budget two days ago, two Gabungan state legislative assembly members (SLMs) condemned Zaid over his disparaging remarks against Sarawak and Sabah.

Stakan SLM Hamzah Brahim wanted Zaid to be arrest immediately under the Sedition Act.

He had said that the former law minister should be arrested under the Sedition Act as his remarks could create unrest, incite dissatisfaction and enmity between Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah.

Daro SLM Safiee Ahmad also urged the relevant authorities to take firm action against former law minister “because it is clear that he had incited dissatisfaction and created enmity among the regions.”

He said the authorities should not allow people like Zaid to become termites which would destroy harmony that had been built by Malaysians all these years.

Premier says Megat Ardian is the best person to head AirBorneo Airlines

KUCHING, Nov 29 2025: Premier Abang Johari Openg has described Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin as the best person to be appointed as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of  state-owned airlines AirBorneo which will start its operation next year.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg (seated, centre) with the board members of the Sarawak Development Institute.  

He said Megat Ardian, former Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) chief aviation and strategy officer, will assume his role on January 1, 2026.

“We have secured the best individual to lead our airline, and the operational model of our carrier will be different from that of AirAsia and MAS (Malaysia Airlines).

“We have our own model that will deliver enhanced networks and improved connectivity within Sarawak,” he said  at the 30th anniversary dinner of the Sarawak Development Institute (SDI) last night.

He added that AirBorneo will also serve as a link for international travellers to discover Sarawak’s unique destinations and cultural attractions, including locations recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

He noted that world-renowned attractions such as the Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM), along with UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Mulu and Niah, as well as the state’s Geopark, stand as valuable assets capable of drawing visitors to Sarawak.

However, the premier pointed out that high airfares have long been a major barrier for visitors hoping to experience these remarkable attractions.

“That is why we established AirBorneo, to address such limitations,” he explained.

Present at the anniversary dinner were Sarawak Secretary Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Financial Secretary Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, Deputy Minister for Transport Henry Harry Jinep, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Administration), Buckland Bangik, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Operation), Hii Chang Kee  and chairman of SDI Jaul Samion.

 

As Sabahans go to the polls tomorrow, Sarawak's activist asks them to evaluate the promise by Putrajaya over the 40 pc entitlement

KUCHING, Nov 28 2025: As Sabahans head to the polls tomorrow, Sarawak’s social activist Voon Shiak Ni urged them to evaluate not just the promises made by the federal government leaders over the 40 per cent revenue entitlement, but also the presence or absence of meaningful steps to give those promises life.“What Sabahans require now is not another pledge but a structural guarantee that the promise will be translated into action,”

Voon Shiak Ni: What Sabahans require now is not another pledge but a structural guarantee that the promise will be translated into action
 

She said a government that is sincere will not fear transparency, accountability, or independent scrutiny.

“Anything less risks confirming the suspicion that this is yet another election-season assurance that may quietly dissipate when the ballots are counted,” Voon said in a statement.

She expressed her deep concern, shared by many Sabahans, regarding the long-standing and unresolved issue of the state’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement as provided for by the Federal Constitution.

She noted that a recent Kota Kinabalu High Court’s ruling has reaffirmed that the right to 40 per cent entitlement is not a request, a favour, or a negotiation item, but a constitutional entitlement belonging to the people of Sabah.

“The court has also set out the need for a clear review of what is owed and established timelines for both the state and federal governments to comply.

“This judicial clarity should have brought an end to decades of ambiguity. Instead, it now places an urgent responsibility on the federal government to honour the constitution both in letter and spirit,” she said.

Voon noted that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent statement that Putrajaya will “immediately” honour Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement is welcomed.

“Yet, we cannot ignore history. We have heard similar commitments before. Time and again, these promises fade once election season ends,” she said.

She recalled that even past national leaders have openly stated that election manifestos should not be taken seriously.

“Against such a backdrop, verbal assurances—no matter how strong—cannot stand on their own.

“What Sabahans require now is not another pledge but a structural guarantee that the promise will be translated into action,” she added.

She said the  court’s ruling has highlighted several contentious matters that must be addressed with full transparency.

“One fundamental issue involves the definition of “net revenue” attributable to Sabah,” she said, adding that for decades, both Sabah and federal governments have disagreed on which taxes, duties, and federal receipts should rightfully be included in the calculation.

“Without public disclosure of these categories and the formula used, the 40 per cent figure risks becoming symbolic rather than enforceable.

“Additionally, the judgment touches on the “lost years”, decades where Sabah did not receive what many believe it was entitled to.

“Whether these historical shortfalls will be acknowledged or compensated is a matter that cannot be brushed aside, particularly when constitutional rights were affected for so long.

“Another source of anxiety stems from the government’s response that the Attorney-General’s Chambers will “study” the judgment and the necessary steps moving forward.

“While this is a routine procedural response, Sabahans have seen how administrative reviews and further studies can easily turn into protracted delays.

“The fear, perhaps justified by experience, is that the implementation may once again be postponed until it loses political urgency after the election.

“In light of these concerns, it is essential that the federal government demonstrates genuine intent by taking immediate, visible steps that go beyond public assurances,” she said.

She observed that around the world, when governments are serious about implementing complex national commitments, they establish specialised task forces or committees with clear mandates, transparent terms of reference, independent experts, and strict timelines.

“Examples include the United Kingdom’s Vaccine Taskforce and the United States’ national Covid-19 response teams, both of which turned political pledges into practical action because they operated with accountability and expert oversight.

“If the federal government intends to honour MA63 in the same sincere manner, a similar structured mechanism must be formed—one that is publicly announced, independently monitored, and insulated from political changes.

“Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement is not something that should be negotiated behind closed doors, delayed through procedural manoeuvres, or reduced to a political slogan. It is a constitutional right,” Voon said.