Kota Kinabalu: Likas Assemblyman Tham Yun Fook said Sabah leaders must show the political will to defend the state’s rights and ensure local interests are prioritised ahead of coalition ties before the coming general election.
In a statement, Tham said repeated discussions on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and constitutional guarantees had become meaningless after 66 years of unfulfilled commitments, including the delayed 40 per cent net revenue entitlement and unresolved autonomy issues.
He was responding to recent remarks by veteran statesman Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan at the Sabah Society anniversary, where Pairin highlighted decades of unmet promises.
Tham praised Pairin’s consistent stand for Sabah but said the time had come for action rather than further statements.
“Sabahans have waited more than half a century. We do not need more explanations, we need concrete results. We do not need more reminders of what we are owed – we need leaders brave enough to claim it,” he said.
Tham challenged Sabah-based political parties to prove they could defend the state’s interests while remaining aligned with coalition partners from Peninsular Malaysia.
He said Sabah had often been forced to compromise when state interests clashed with coalition demands, including on MA63, revenue sharing, the Petroleum Development Act and the Territorial Sea Act.
He urged Pairin, whose views carry strong respect in Sabah, to use his influence to encourage current Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) leaders and other local parties to reconsider their political alignments.
“The core problem is no longer whether we know our rights – it is whether we have the freedom and courage to fight for them. As long as local parties answer first to outside coalitions, Sabah’s interests will always come second,” Tham said.
With elections approaching, Tham said voters would face a crucial choice between supporting parties that place Sabah’s interests first or accepting continued delays and compromises.
“This election is not just about choosing candidates – it is about deciding who gets to shape our future. Sabah’s rights will never be handed down as a favour; they must be claimed by leaders who answer only to Sabahans,” he said.
