By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 16: Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin has proposed that the validity of Malaysia’s formation be brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the United Nations (UN) to determine the legitimacy of the Federation’s establishment, and that a referendum be held in Sabah and Sarawak in the name of justice.
Speaking during the debate on Budget 2026 in Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 15), Willie asserted that after 62 years, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) had not been fully implemented or honoured, which he described as a breach of the original pact that bound Sabah and Sarawak to the Federation.
He said the imbalance in development between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo remained stark, particularly in basic infrastructure such as roads, clean water supply, electricity and internet connectivity.
“Balanced development between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo must be a national priority.
“The implementation of MA63 must be translated into real action, not mere promises. The rights of Sabah and Sarawak cannot continue to be violated by false assurances from Malayan leadership,” he said.
Willie further highlighted that Sarawak’s rights over oil and gas resources are enshrined in the State’s own pre-Malaysia laws, the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO 1958) and the Land Code 1958, and cannot be overridden by federal laws such as the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA 1974).
Reminding that Malaysia’s strength lies in its foundation as a federation of equal partners, he however noted that this foundation is now being tested, as laws enshrined in the Constitution, which form the very basis of Sarawak’s participation in the federation, have been deliberately and systematically disregarded Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) as a federal statutory body.
“PETRONAS is legally bound to obtain all licences and permits from the Sarawak government under OMO 1958 before exploring or extracting resources within the State’s boundaries. Its position as a national trustee does not grant it immunity from Sarawak’s sovereign laws,” he said.
Willie stressed that Sarawak had never intended to “destroy” PETRONAS but instead sought fair partnership and mutual progress.
“Is it excessive for us to claim our rights in accordance with the law and the Constitution?” he asked.
He also cited the Borneo States [Legislative Powers] Order 1963 and the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report 1962, which granted legislative powers over electricity and gas distribution to Sarawak and Sabah. He urged PETRONAS and the federal government to respect the Federal Constitution and MA63 as binding legal and moral commitments.
Willie warned that prolonged neglect of Sabah and Sarawak’s rights could have grave consequences for national unity.
“This crisis cannot be allowed to persist, for I fear that dark tragedies like those in Nepal and Indonesia may befall our nation. Sabah and Sarawak must be given true justice, and MA63 must be honoured in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law,” he said.
He ended by reaffirming his loyalty to the nation but urged that such loyalty should not be taken as consent to continued marginalisation.
“We all love this country, but do not use our love for it as an excuse to deny us our rights,” he added. — DayakDaily
