Unchecked religious rhetoric is fueling resentment in Sabah and Sarawak, as many East Malaysians question their place in the federation, Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau has warned.

Speaking in Parliament, Madius pointed to growing frustration over how national policies, particularly those related to religion, are made without consensus.

He cited the recent controversy over new religious guidelines proposed by the Minister of Religious Affairs, which were rejected by the Cabinet on February 7, yet still sparked debate.

“This kind of rhetoric only sows division and prolongs confusion in Malaysia’s multiracial society,” he said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address on Tuesday.

“In fact, it is precisely this kind of religiously charged hate speech that has made many Sabahans and Sarawakians regret forming the Malaysian Federation.

“Many have said, ‘The Malaysia of today is not the Malaysia that we have agreed to form under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. To us in Sabah, MA63 is encapsulated in the Batu Sumpah Keningau, where it says … freedom of religion in Sabah…’

“And not a few have also said, ‘Our region is the richest in natural resources, yet we remain the poorest.’

“And some have even remarked, ‘Perhaps we should go our own way, like Singapore.’”

Madius contrasted Singapore’s trajectory with Sabah’s economic stagnation, saying the city-state’s commitment to unity had translated into prosperity.

“Singapore is a multiracial, multi-religious nation, yet they remain united. Differences in race and religion are not barriers to progress.

“Economically, Singapore has reached first-world status with a GDP per capita of USD 84,000.

“Imagine how Sabahans feel when we see that our GDP per capita has stagnated at USD 5,000 while Malaysia as a whole stands at USD 12,000, compared to Singapore—and we are running on the spot with no progress year after year,” he said.

Madius also cited the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s recent speech in Parliament, where the King emphasized the need for cooperation between federal and state governments to maintain national unity.

“The King’s remarks clearly reflect his concerns over the integrity and cohesion of Malaysia as a federation.

“His concerns were further reinforced by his firm statement that ‘Every action and decision must be discussed and agreed upon for the future of the people and the nation.’

“Tuaran fully agrees and extends our gratitude to the King for understanding the people’s sentiments on how critical the unity of the Malaysian Federation is at this time,” he said.

Madius warned that the unilateral announcement of the religious guidelines on February 4, before Cabinet approval, was a glaring example of poor governance.

“This action clearly contradicts the principles of good governance meant to safeguard the integrity and unity of the Malaysian Federation, as the King stated: ‘Decisions must be made through consensus.’

“This means that every proposed policy, program, and guideline must be presented and approved by the Cabinet before being announced,” he said.

He cautioned that repeated missteps in governance risk further alienating Sabah and Sarawak, deepening the sense of disillusionment with the federation. – February 18, 2025