Kota kinabalu: Barisan Nasional (BN) will make efforts to fulfil all of Sabah’s claims under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) if it is given the mandate in the 17th Sabah State Election, said BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is Deputy Prime Minister, said he would personally pursue this matter to ensure that Sabah’s rights under the agreement are fully realised.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid emphasized that BN’s commitment to MA63 is not political rhetoric but a continuation of efforts started under the previous BN administration and pursued by the current MADANI Government. He expressed confidence that with the MADANI Government’s commitment, MA63 would be fully implemented, pledging to press for its execution at the Cabinet level. Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, president of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, a BN component party in Sabah, will also advocate for this cause.
Addressing reporters after launching the BN manifesto, Ahmad Zahid dismissed claims that MA63 is a burden, asserting that such opinions do not reflect BN’s stance, which focuses on upholding Sabah’s rights in accordance with the Constitution. The launch event at the Sabah UMNO Building was attended by several BN leaders, including Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
Ahmad Zahid highlighted the importance of resolving Sabah’s infrastructure issues to attract foreign direct investment, which would generate more job opportunities for the state’s youth. Sabah has the highest unemployment rate in the country, with 169,000 unemployed individuals. To address this, education initiatives through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training ecosystem are being prioritized to create job opportunities for young Sabahans.
He also mentioned that if BN returns to lead the state government, several major projects would be expedited, including the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway, the development of a major port in Kudat, and plans for a new airport. Ahmad Zahid expressed optimism for a stronger BN victory in the upcoming election but acknowledged the need for the party machinery to work diligently to win voters’ trust and not underestimate the strength of opponents.
Encouraging voters, he said, “Let us turn Sabah blue again. We have a long history; when Sabah was under BN, it was once a very progressive state. If BN is given the mandate again, we will work with other parties and coalitions to redevelop the state.” In the previous Sabah state election, BN secured 14 of the 40 seats contested. This election, BN is contesting 45 out of the 73 seats available, with 81 per cent of its candidates being new faces, nearly half of whom are professionals and young individuals. Polling is set for Nov 29, with early voting on Nov 25.