Sabah Sarawak Union - United Kingdom (SSU-UK)

In a joint press statement on 30 Dec 2024, Australia-based NGOs, the Republic of Sabah North Borneo (RSNB) and Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia New Zealand (SSRANZ) have expressed strong support for and commended the bravery and determination of Sabah university students who have proposed demonstrations against corruption 31 Dec 2024.

The 2 non-governmental organisations dedicated to seeking real self-determination for Sabah and Sarawak, firmly uphold the principles of integrity, accountability, and self-government.

The NGOs said that the students’ activism is a testament to the spirit of the youth, who are refusing to accept the status quo of corruption and injustice. Their commitment to demanding accountability is an inspiration to all Sabahans, and they fully support their call for a government free from corruption. 

“We urge that these efforts be conducted with fairness and impartiality, ensuring that all forms of corruption are addressed without bias or selective targeting. The future of Sabah rests on the shoulders of its youth, and their efforts must be guided by integrity, transparency, and the pursuit of the greater good.”

It is important to recognize that corruption at the federal level has played a pivotal role in nurturing the culture of corruption that continues to plague Sabah and Sarawak. The creation of Malaysia itself was marked by corruption at the highest level, with the British bribery of their nominees to sign the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). 

This historical precedent set the tone for political practices that have continued unchecked at the federal level, which in turn fostered similar corrupt practices in Sabah and Sarawak. The political systems in both states have suffered as a result, as the pervasive culture of corruption from the top has trickled down to local governance. This has undermined public trust and fundamentally hindered the growth and progress of both states.

RSNB and SSRANZ believe that corruption has also facilitated the federal government's control over the 2 Borneo state governments, undermining their ability to exercise self-government by eroding transparency and accountability.

The NGOs are steadfast in their commitment to combat corruption in all its forms as part of their campaign for Sabah and Sarawak self-determination. Corruption is a cancer that erodes public trust, weakens institutions, and hampers Sabah’s development. No individual, political organisation or institution should be beyond scrutiny. Anti-corruption efforts must be inclusive and non-selective, targeting all forms of wrongdoing regardless of rank or affiliation. Transparency and accountability must remain the cornerstone of governance in Sabah.

As Sabah moves forward, RSNB and SSRANZ call on all Sabahans to unite in pursuit of a just, transparent, and sovereign state. It is only through collective action—free from corruption and external interference—that we can achieve true independence and prosperity.

“We reiterate our commitment to championing these principles and urge all stakeholders—political leaders, institutions, and civil society—to uphold the values of democracy, accountability, and the people’s right to self-determination.”

Mosses PA Ampang

President of Republic of Sabah North Borneo (RSNB) NGO

and 

Robert Pei 

President of Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia New Zealand (SSRANZ) NGO

Endorsed by

1. Daniel John Jambun President Borneo's Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)

2. Peter John Jaban Founder  Sarawakians for Sarawak & Saya Anak Sarawak

3. Emily Edward - President of Sabah Sarawak Borneo Natives Organisation of Australia

4. Yu Chin Liik, Plaintiff on MA63 2018 CASE

Protes ini memperingati ulang tahun hari di mana pada tahun 1963, Malaya, atas alasan membentuk "Malaysia," meluaskan sempadan politiknya untuk memasukkan Sabah dan Sarawak. Para penunjuk perasaan berhujah bahawa tiada negara baru yang dibentuk pada hari tersebut; sebaliknya, ia merupakan peluasan strategik kawalan Malaya ke atas Borneo. Dalam ucapannya, Ampang menyatakan, “Pembentukan Malaysia yang kononnya berlaku adalah satu muslihat politik yang dilakukan melalui paksaan, penipuan, dan tanpa persetujuan rakyat Borneo. Tiada referendum yang pernah diadakan, menjadikan ia satu penjajahan yang tidak sah ke atas tanah kami.”

Demonstrasi ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kesedaran di kalangan rakyat Australia dan masyarakat antarabangsa mengenai tuntutan keadilan oleh rakyat Borneo. "Rakyat Sabah dan Sarawak berhak untuk mendapatkan kemerdekaan, dan mereka perlu diberi peluang untuk meluahkan hak demokratik mereka," kata Ampang, sambil menyeru penamatan apa yang beliau anggap sebagai “penjajahan Malaya” ke atas negara-negara Borneo. Beliau menambah, "Demonstrasi aman ini adalah satu seruan untuk mendapatkan sokongan antarabangsa bagi mendesak Malaysia supaya menghormati hak-hak rakyat Borneo. Sudah tiba masanya untuk keadilan, dan dunia perlu berdiri bersama kami."

Acara ini menggariskan usaha berterusan oleh NGO Republik Sabah North Borneo dan kumpulan-kumpulan kemerdekaan Borneo lain untuk menimbulkan kesedaran tentang konteks sejarah dan politik seputar Perjanjian Malaysia. Ampang dan para penunjuk perasaan menegaskan semula tuntutan mereka agar komuniti antarabangsa mengakui ketidaksahan perjanjian tersebut dan mencari penyelesaian aman yang menghormati hak rakyat Borneo untuk menentukan nasib mereka sendiri.

Ketika demonstrasi berakhir, para penganjur menegaskan komitmen mereka untuk terus memperjuangkan kemerdekaan Sabah dan Sarawak, sambil menggesa badan-badan antarabangsa untuk campur tangan dan memberi sokongan yang diperlukan bagi menamatkan apa yang mereka anggap sebagai penjajahan yang tidak adil.

Melbourne, September 14, 2024 – Three prominent advocacy organizations, Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia New Zealand (SSRANZ), Republic of Sabah North Borneo (RSNB), and Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM), will unite to stage a peaceful demonstration in front of the Victorian Parliamentary building. The event is scheduled to coincide with the 61st anniversary of what these groups refer to as "Malaysia's occupation" of Sabah and Sarawak since September 16, 1963.

This date, celebrated in Malaysia as Malaysia Day, is viewed by the organizers as a reminder of the historical grievances experienced by the people of Sabah (formerly North Borneo) and Sarawak. These two Borneo states were originally led to believe that they were part of the formation of a new country, but, according to the organizers, this promise was never fulfilled. Instead, they claim that the reality was an expansion of the Malayan Federation into Borneo, later renamed Malaysia, resulting in what the NGOs argue is an ongoing occupation by Peninsular Malaysia.

A Peaceful Call for Awareness and Justice

The demonstration aims to raise international awareness about the ongoing situation in Sabah and Sarawak, which the NGOs argue is one of systematic suppression, injustice, and exploitation by the central government in Kuala Lumpur. According to the organizers, this is an opportunity to educate the international community on what they perceive as a 61-year-long oppression and to correct misconceptions surrounding the creation of Malaysia.

The demonstration will also highlight:

1. Injustice and Misrepresentation: The organizers will address what they call the "betrayal" of Sabah and Sarawak, emphasizing that the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 (MA63) misled the people of both states into believing they would be equal partners in a new federation. Instead, they argue, the agreement enabled Malaya to consolidate control over their territories.
2. Harassment and Intimidation: The NGOs will present instances of alleged harassment, intimidation, and political suppression of individuals and groups advocating for Sabah and Sarawak's rights. This includes accusations of legal threats, arrests, and a lack of autonomy for local political leaders, all of which contribute to what they describe as a stifling of free expression in the Borneo states.
3. Cultural and Economic Exploitation: Another focus will be on the alleged economic exploitation of Sabah and Sarawak, particularly in terms of natural resources like oil and gas. The groups argue that the wealth generated from these resources has not been equitably distributed to the people of Borneo, leaving both states impoverished while contributing significantly to Malaysia's overall economy.

A Broader Movement for Independence

The peaceful demonstration is part of a larger movement led by these NGOs advocating for the independence of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia. The Republic of Sabah North Borneo (RSNB) has been at the forefront of these efforts, with its president, Mosses PA Ampang, calling for international support for the right to self-determination. The Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia & New Zealand (SSRANZ) organization lead by Robert Pei, founded in July 2017, has also been actively organizing forums, live talks, and public meetings to strengthen the push for independence.

Advocates point to historical grievances dating back to the signing of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which they argue was neither fully understood by the people of Borneo nor implemented in the way it was initially promised. Calls to revisit or even nullify the agreement have been mounting, especially in light of a growing sense of disenfranchisement among the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak.

Voices of Resistance Amidst Threats

Despite the peaceful nature of their demonstrations and outreach efforts, activists involved in the independence movement have faced numerous challenges. RSNB, SSRANZ, and SSKM have all reported receiving threats, including warnings that members could face imprisonment if they return to Malaysia. However, the growing international presence of these organizations, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, has allowed them to continue their advocacy while highlighting the plight of Sabah and Sarawak on the global stage.

Rallying for Global Attention

As the peaceful demonstration approaches, organizers are hopeful that it will not only shed light on the issues faced by the Borneo states but also garner international support for their cause. The event, they hope, will serve as a platform for the people of Sabah and Sarawak to share their stories and push for a resolution to what they perceive as a long-standing injustice.

With the upcoming demonstration on September 15, 2024, the voices of Sabah and Sarawak are growing louder, calling for an end to what they describe as six decades of occupation and a new chapter of independence and self-determination.

In rural areas, not many have yet ever heard about MA63 and even in towns and cities in Sabah and Sarawak, many people never heard about MA63.

Legal opinions in UN Secretariat clearly mentioned that Malaysia is not a new nation but a nation with a change of name to Malaysia. This means Malaysia is Malaya and Malaya is Malaysia. UN secretariat legal opinions are also of the opinion that Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore were gifted by UK to enlarge Malaya. Tunku in a book titled Conversation with Tunku Abdul Rahman at page 86 also mentioned Singapore Sabah and Sarawak were a gift to Malaya and Tunku also wrote a letter of thanks to the Queen for the gift.

Therefore, it was a fraud because there was no referendum at that time for people of Sabah and Sarawak to decide for themselves whether or not they wish to join Malaya to create Malaysia.

UK and Malaya cleverly overcome the need of a referendum to settle this issue by circumventing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514 of right of colonized countries for self determination by way of assessment of 4000 odd Sabahans and Sarawakians by the Cobbold Commission and came with a doctored report to say peoples of Sabah and Sarawak wanted Malaysia. How could these 4000 odds could represent the voice of 1.3 million Borneo people at that time? 

Please read the book by Prof Michael Leigh the demands by Tunku that Cobbold Commission Report must show that peoples of Borneo Territories wanted Malaysia.None of the members of Cobbold Commission could speak and understand the native languages of Sabah and Sarawak and most of our people were illiterate and could not at that time understand English. They could not understand the purpose of the Cobbold Commission which came with a report within weeks only. How could they able to travel the length and breadth of Sabah and Sarawak to find the true wishes of the people?

There are evidence in our hands that those who disagree with MALAYSIA were arrested and tortured and branded as terrorists and communists. They had to save their lives and hid themselves in the jungle and took arms to defend themselves. To take arms to defend yourself against being killed is legal under domestic and international law. 

Indonesian President Soekarno and the Philippines were against MALAYSIA and this caused the border wars in 1960s which also led to peace settlement by signing the Manila Accord with a promise by Malaya to hold a referendum but until now this was not fulfilled.

Records also showed that officials from the United Nations were "handpicked" to agree with the Cobbold Commission Report. A guy was said known could be bribed.

When fraud was involved in the creation of Malaysia, we could not allow the dead child Malaysia be revived.  In law, the law could not help any fraud.

Although in the federal constitution etc it mentioned that Sabah and Sarawak are federated with Malaya or helped formed Malaysia, but in reality, politically Sabah and Sarawak are colonies of Malaya. 

Malaya controls parliament and the federal cabinet and controls the state government by proxies in past 60 years. Malaya also have political parties from Malaya like PKR, PAS, Bersatu, DAP, MUDA fighting for seats in Sabah and Sarawak. Seats won by them are seats taken away from Sabah and Sarawak. 

Sabah and Sarawak are only given 56 out of 222 MP seats. 

At the moment, not many could be bothered to say MA63 is a fraud or that Sabah and Sarawak are colonies of Malaya. At the same time, not many feel the pain of loss of marine wealth, oil and gas and natural resources being taken by Malaya because things are not from their pockets.

Under international law, colonizers have the legal right to impose their wills on their colonies including their religion and imposing their culture, language and administration on the colonised. This gave rise to slavery by colonisers against the colonized. Please see Africa until now.

PBK has no means at the moment to set the matter straight due to lack of support, manpower and fund. It is the people's power that is important in politics. I personally believe time will come people will seek justice in the streets and there will be a peaceful revolution against MALAYSIA or the federal government. We have seen this in many African countries and even in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand had "tasted" street revolution.

You couldn't seek justice in many matters in Malaysian Court and I had discussed this with an eminent foreign law professor and a foreign judge.

Voon Lee Shan
President Parti Bumi Kenyalang

 Perhatikan perbezaan kemasukan Scotland ke dlm UK dan kemasukan North Borneo ke dlm Malaysia. 

Parlimen Scotland meluluskan Act of Union 1707 untuk bergabung atau memasuki UK. Tapi Parlimen Britain yg meluluskan Malaysia Act 1963 supaya North Borneo bergabung dgn Malaysia pada 16.09.1963 kerana North Borneo belum mempunyai Parlimen atau Dewan Undangan Negeri pada waktu itu. Ia hanya mempunyai Parlimen atau DUN sendiri pada 25.09.1963.

Konon referendum Cobbold Commission yg menentukannya. Ketahuilah bahawa walaupun keputusan referendum 100% memihak cadangan utk memasuki Malaysia, ia WAJIB dibentangkan di Parlimen/DUN negara itu sendiri sebelum menjadi Akta. 

Oleh sebab North Borneo belum mempunyai Parlimen / DUN sendiri,  keputusan referendum tersebut terpaksa dibentangkan di Parlimen Britain hingga termeterainya Malaysia Act 1963.

Jadi sudah jelas bahawa Parliamen Britain yg membuat keputusan supaya North Borneo memasuki Malaysia, bukan North Borneo atau Parlimen/DUN North Borneo yg membuat keputusan tersebut."

Source: Jack Situn II