Tenom – A senior Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leader has issued a stark warning that only Sabah-based parties can truly safeguard the state's interests, pointing to past betrayals of Sabah's rights as cautionary tales.
Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, GRS Deputy Secretary-General and Domestic Trade Minister, said the controversial 2012 Territorial Sea Act (TSA) – which curtailed Sabah's maritime jurisdiction to just three nautical miles – stands as proof of why local parties must lead the state government.
"Leaders Who Stayed Silent Must Answer"
In a fiery address at Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah's annual meeting in Melalap, Armizan called out politicians who remained mute during the TSA's passage but now posture as defenders of state rights.
"Some were MPs or even federal ministers in 2012. Why protest now but not then? History remembers their silence," he said, in an apparent jab at Sabah Umno/BN figures who held power during the law's enactment.
His remarks underscore lingering resentment over the TSA, which Sabah nationalists view as a federal overreach that stripped the state of control over its surrounding waters.
Why Sabah Needs Its Own Political Core
Armizan argued the current PH-GRS alignment – where national parties lead federally while local parties dominate statewide – offers the best protection for Sabah:
✔ Prevents single-party dominance over both state and federal decisions
✔ Ensures Sabah's voice is heard through inter-governmental negotiations, not intra-party directives
✔ Recent win: Sabah's intervention limited the new CCUS Act 2025 to Peninsular Malaysia only
"When the carbon capture bill was drafted, Sabah and Sarawak spoke up – and the federal government listened. That's the difference local leadership makes," he said, crediting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's MA63 commitments.
The 2012 vs. 2025 Divide
Armizan contrasted two eras:
2012 Failure
- Same national party ruled Putrajaya and Kota Kinabalu
- Sabah MPs toeing party lines over state interests
- TSA passed without effective opposition
2025 Success
- Federal (PH) and state (GRS) governments distinct
- Sabah's concerns addressed through formal channels
- CCUS Act amended to respect Borneo states' autonomy
Inclusive But Autonomous
While welcoming national party representatives in the state cabinet, Armizan stressed:
"Sabah's core must remain local. Our government isn't a branch office of Putrajaya – it's a partner."
The Papar MP's message resonates with growing Sabah-first sentiment, particularly as the state eyes greater control over resources like carbon credits and offshore energy.
What's Next?
With state elections looming, Armizan's speech signals GRS will campaign on:
- Expanding Sabah's autonomy under MA63
- Contrasting its record with past Umno/BN administrations
- Positioning itself as the authentic voice for Sabahans
"The choice is clear," he concluded. "Sabah's backbone must be Sabahan."