Jeffrey Kitingan calls for review of Federal laws curbing Sabah powers

SABAH Deputy Chief Minister and STAR president Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has urged a joint Sabah–Sarawak review of federal legislation which he says has steadily eroded state autonomy and undermined constitutional guarantees under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Jeffrey, when welcoming remarks by the Sarawak Governor on federal encroachment said Sabah faced similar challenges.

He noted that while Sarawak had spoken out on the Petroleum Development Act 1974 and the Environmental Quality Act 1974, Sabah’s difficulties went further, affecting not only oil and the environment but also its seas, fisheries and electricity supply.

Jeffrey argued that the Territorial Sea Act 2012 had arbitrarily cut Sabah’s maritime boundary to three nautical miles, depriving the state of control over offshore resources.

He said the Fisheries Act 1985 stripped away licensing powers from Sabah and placed them in Putrajaya’s hands, adding that the limited “devolution” of powers in recent years was largely meaningless, as it still left the state bound to federal law and reliant on federal goodwill.

He also pointed to the Electricity Supply Act 1990, which shifted authority over Sabah’s power sector to federal agencies, leaving the state unable to decide on its own energy needs.

“These incursions have left Sabah poorer, weaker and more dependent, in direct contradiction to the promises made under MA63,” Jeffrey said in a statement from Kota Kinabalu on Sunday.

He called for both Sabah and Sarawak to conduct a full review of federal laws that violate the constitutional division of powers, and pressed for the restoration of revenue entitlements, including the 40 per cent net return due to Sabah.

He also urged Parliament to put in place binding safeguards to prevent further encroachment.

While praising Sarawak’s leadership in voicing concerns, Jeffrey stressed that Sabah would not merely echo its neighbour’s stance.

“As a son of Sabah, I insist that our rights are enforced, our sovereignty respected and our future secured. Our rights are not a favour from Putrajaya. They are obligations already signed, already promised, and long overdue,” he said. - September 28, 2025