Rights activist Peter John blasts Zaid Ibrahim over his unwarranted comments on Sarawak and Sabah

KUCHING, March 3 2026: State rights activist Peter John Jaban has slammed former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim over his unwarranted comments on Sarawak and Sabah, with regards to Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Peter John Jaban says  political leaders who play games with constitutional promises are betraying the very foundation of Malaysia. 

He said Zaid’s comments are not just disappointing, but are also insulting, reckless, and show a blatant disregard for the constitutional position of East Malaysia.

“As a Sarawakian who has witnessed our people’s struggles firsthand, I find Zaid’s statement offensive and dangerously misleading,” Peter said when asked to respond to Zaid’s comments posted on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday.

Peter reminded Zaid that Sabah and Sarawak are not a ‘burden’ on Malaysia, saying that “We are equal partners, bound by MA63, with rights and autonomy that must be respected.”

“To dismiss our legitimate demands for justice, development, and recognition as mere political inconvenience is either an act of ignorance or a deliberate attempt to centralise power at the expense of the Borneo states,” Peter, who is also the founder of Saya Anak Sarawak (SAS) state rights movement, said.

He reminded that leadership is not about belittling others, it is about protecting the integrity of the nation.

He said political leaders who play games with constitutional promises are betraying the very foundation of Malaysia.

“We will not stay silent while our contributions and rights are ridiculed.”

He said framing Sabah and Sarawak’s pursuit of their constitutional safeguards as a game of “outwitting Malaya” is arrogant, condescending, and offensive.

“MA63 was never a political stunt, but is a binding agreement that formed the foundation of Malaysia,”he said, reminding that reducing it to sarcasm insults the law, history, and the people of East Malaysia.

He said both  Sarawak and Sabah did not “outwit” anyone, stating that “we formed Malaysia as equal partners, with safeguards to protect our autonomy, identity, and resources.

“Raising these issues today is not hostility, it is asserting our rights under the law and the promises that built this nation,” he said.

Peter said, Zaid, being a former law minister, should understand that constitutional agreements are not political talking points to be mocked.

“They are the backbone of the federation. Disagreements must be resolved with legal reasoning and respect, not dismissive rhetoric that deepens mistrust between regions.

“Remarks like these confirm a long-standing perception certain West Malaysian elites continue to view East Malaysian concerns with disdain.

“This dismissive attitude is exactly why MA63 remains a vital and sensitive discussion. Malaysia deserves mature, fact-based discourse not provocative soundbites and belittlement.

“National unity cannot be built on sarcasm or mockery. It requires respect, constitutional integrity, and recognition of historical commitments,” Peter said, stressing that if political leaders claim to care about unity, they must start by respecting the rights of Sabah and Sarawak.

“Anything less is a betrayal,” he said.

 Zaid Ibrahim, as always,  has oblique views on Sarawak and Sabah, as far as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is concerned.

On a X post yesterday, Zaid he has always admired Sarawak and Sabah, he said: “Their latest political plan, called the Borneo Bloc, is an example of how smart they are to continue to outwit and control Malaya.”

He said 70 years ago, they asked their British masters to let them join Malaya on terms favourable to them; hence, MA 63.

“They tell the world that, together with Malaya, they formed Malaysia as partners when in truth they were merely British colonies.

“Whitehall (the British government) and Lee Kuan Yew (then Prime Minister of Singapore) negotiated for them very good terms.

“That's why they can decide whether to allow us to visit them, but we can't work there. Even when doing business, you must venture with them,” he claimed.

“Then they now challenge our laws: the Law of the Sea, PDA (Petroleum Development Act), Petronas and whatever else.

“There are still 30 items, they say still outstanding from MA63. They get 40 per cent of the revenue. It is endless,” Zaid wrote.

“With the Borneo Bloc and the demand for more parliamentary seats, they are in a good position for years to come.

“They said the Borneo Bloc is to give them balance and a negotiating position. No, they already have that; now they want control,” he wrote.