Borneo Bloc: A concrete effort to fight for Sabah, Sarawak's rights together
18 Nov 2022 09:41pm
SANDAKAN, 16 Nov - GRS Chairman and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (centre) listening to Batu Sapi parliamentary candidate and Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (right) while campaigning at the Kampung Bongaya Baru. (Photo by BERNAMA)
Turut hadir Presiden Usno Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia (kiri).
-- fotoBERNAMA (2022) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA
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Political analysts interviewed by Bernama are of the opinion that although the Borneo bloc strengthens the demands of Sabah and Sarawak, especially involving the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), it does not affect the relationship with the federal government at all.
A researcher at the Geopolitical and Electoral Studies Unit (GeoPes) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Dr Haryati Abdul Karim, said the number of seats contested by Sabah parties is seen as insufficient to form a bloc with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
At the same time, GPS has not given the final say to form a bloc with any party from Sabah, including Parti Warisan (Warisan), which claims to have reached an understanding with GPS to form the Borneo bloc cooperation.
"The problem is, this bloc is not official. If it really exists, it will have an impact on policies and the formation of state governments which will have more power in the areas that have been controlled by the federal government.
"From the political point of view, if we truly understand the Borneo bloc, it does not affect Sabah and Sarawak’s relationship with the federal government. However, theoretically, it also means that the Prime Minister can come either from Sabah or Sarawak because both states have the status of equal partners,” she said.
Haryati explained that the idea to form the bloc was not something new but was mooted by Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan after the defeat of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th General Election and political parties in Sabah and Sarawak left BN to form their own coalition.
She said that theoretically, the Borneo bloc means that Sabah and Sarawak parties will join forces to form a political bloc in Borneo, thus giving the two states more power in claiming their rights, according to MA63.
She said that through the bloc, Sabah and Sarawak have the power to ensure that their status as equal partners to Peninsular Malaysia is reinstated.
Meanwhile, political analyst Musli Oli opined that the Borneo bloc could only be formed if GPS worked with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which comprises several political parties.
He said that in Sabah, GRS, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, has the power to make decisions and has the support and cooperation of BN and PAS.
"Hajiji can control because he is the chairman of GRS. Even though he is from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) but he stands on the GRS ticket. So, we can say that GRS is the real deal that can form the Borneo bloc and not Warisan because Warisan is only a single party,” he said.
Prior to this, Hajiji and Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal made positive comments on the Borneo Bloc.
"There is a need for Sabah and Sarawak to join forces to demand the rights enshrined in MA63, and the Borneo bloc is seen as a good mechanism for this. It should be the main condition for national parties that want to form cooperation with parties in Sabah and Sarawak,” said Musli. - BERNAMA
