History shows that political unions endure only when they are grounded in mutual respect, fairness, and good faith. Singapore’s departure from Malaysia in 1965 followed prolonged political and economic disagreements that could not be resolved despite repeated efforts at accommodation. The lesson from history is not division for its own sake, but the necessity of honest negotiation and respect for agreed rights.

Today, Sarawak faces a serious constitutional and economic dispute over the control and management of its oil and gas resources—resources that are fundamental to the state’s development and were never meant to be stripped of local authority without consent. The decision by Petronas and its subsidiaries to pursue legal action against the Sarawak Government signals a breakdown of cooperative federalism and a failure to resolve differences through consultation and political goodwill.

Sarawak is not asking for conflict. Sarawak is asserting rights guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and the principles upon which Malaysia was formed. When a federal arrangement no longer functions equitably, the responsible path forward is not coercion or litigation against a partner state, but sincere dialogue, transparent negotiations, and constitutional solutions.

If political and economic disagreements cannot be resolved through good-faith engagement, then both the Federal Government and the Sarawak Government must courageously explore *lawful, constitutional, and democratic mechanisms* to redefine their relationship—whether through enhanced autonomy, revised resource governance, or a new federal settlement that reflects present realities. Unity imposed without justice is not unity; it is imbalance.

Sarawak’s position is clear: partnership must be based on respect, not dominance; cooperation, not compulsion. The future of the federation depends not on who controls resources through force of law, but on whether Malaysia can honour its founding promises and treat its constituent states as equal partners.

This is not a call for disorder. It is a call for fairness, constitutionalism, and political maturity—so that disputes are resolved not through confrontation, but through principles worthy of a democratic nation.

Sarawakians are now asking sincerely whether there will be mutual respect and peaceful relationship between Sarawak and Malaya in the federation and if political hostilities between parties could not be resolved, parties, perhaps should seriously think of parting ways amicably like what was done between Singapore and Malaya in 1965.

Voon Lee Shan
President
Parti Bumi Kenyalang
3/2/2026

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