Malaysia must look beyond Malay unity for political stability – Sarawak Minister

MALAYSIA needs to look beyond Malay political unity if it wants lasting stability, says Sarawak minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Karim, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief, said Sabah and Sarawak had become increasingly uncomfortable with political developments in the peninsula, particularly the growing emphasis on race and religion.

“After more than 60 years of Merdeka, there should not be too much focus on race,” he said.

He stressed that Sarawak did not want to see Malay parties divided, but said political stability should not be measured only by whether Malay parties were united.

“We would love to see stability and togetherness not just among Malay parties in Malaya but also among parties that represent the other races and religious groups,” he said.

Karim said instability in the peninsula would eventually affect the Borneo states, including their development and relations with other countries.

“An unstable Malaya would lead to an unstable Malaysia, and this will also affect Sabah and Sarawak’s future development, especially in our relationship with foreign countries,” he said.

He also urged leaders in the peninsula to remember that Sabah and Sarawak were equal partners in the federation.

Although Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) does not have enough parliamentary seats to determine on its own who should lead the federal government, Karim said its support remained important to parties seeking to form a government.

“GPS is very united and that probably makes the disunited Malayan parties want to court us — to increase their support to form the national government,” he said.

“We will act as the ‘stabiliser’ for who should lead Malaysia.”

Karim made the remarks as he spoke about the importance of Sarawak’s multicultural identity during the opening of the 23rd Kuching Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival at Carpenter Street last night.

His speech was delivered by Deputy Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan.

Karim said the festival’s strength was not simply that different communities were represented, but that people from those communities actually mixed and interacted.

“Our diversity is not something that separates us. It is something that brings us together,” he said.

Chinese, Malay, Dayak, Indian and other communities are represented at the festival, with traders, performers, families and young entrepreneurs sharing the historic streets of old Kuching.

Karim said this was also how the city’s heritage remained relevant.

“A heritage street without people is only a collection of old buildings,” he said.

“But when communities continue to gather here, when young entrepreneurs bring new ideas here, when cultural traditions are performed here, and when visitors are welcomed here, heritage becomes alive.”

He said the participation of younger traders was particularly important, as traditions could not survive if younger generations were simply expected to preserve them without having a role in shaping them.

“Our traditions will survive only when the younger generation finds a place within them,” he said.

Karim said KIMF’s 23 editions showed that an event could become part of a city’s identity when it was embraced by the wider community.

“An event may be started by a committee, but an event can survive for more than two decades only when the community embraces it,” he said.

“KIMF has reached that stage. It is no longer merely an annual event. It has become part of Kuching’s story.”

He said the Sarawak government would continue supporting initiatives that promote cultural diversity and the creative industries. – September 17, 2026