Political analysts say a proposed united “Borneo bloc” made up of parties from Sabah and Sarawak could significantly strengthen East Malaysia’s influence in federal politics. Dick Lembang Dugun of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said that closer cooperation among local parties would enhance their bargaining power in dealings with the federal government. He suggested that such a bloc should adopt a shared manifesto focused on resolving outstanding issues under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, along with establishing a transparent mechanism to monitor progress. Among the bloc’s immediate priorities, he said, should be pushing for greater parliamentary representation for both states. Currently, Sabah and Sarawak together hold 56 seats in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat — 25 from Sabah and 31 from Sarawak. The idea of forming a more formal alliance was recently raised by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy secretary-general Armizan Mohd Ali, who called for both states to unite in shaping the federal government and advancing their core agenda. Lee Kuok Tiung of Universiti Malaysia Sabah described the proposal as timely, noting that Malaysia’s 2022 general election resulted in a hung Parliament, leaving no single coalition dominant. Although there is informal cooperation between GRS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) within the current unity government, Lee pointed out that GRS does not control Sabah’s parliamentary seats to the same extent that GPS dominates in Sarawak. He argued that GRS would need to win more seats in the next general election to strengthen the bloc’s negotiating position. Lee also recommended forming a secretariat to coordinate positions between the two states and avoid conflicting demands. He said the bloc should only support a West Malaysian coalition that agrees in writing to meet its demands, including increased parliamentary seats and Sabah’s claim to 40% of state revenue, as well as allocating one-third of Dewan Rakyat seats to East Malaysia.

YouTube video by KakiShopee