Latest news with #TSA2012
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah parties must lead Sabah: Armizan
Published on: Sunday, July 06, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 06, 2025 By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: The national parties form the backbone at the federal level, and local parties form the backbone at the state level, a political model that must be maintained,' Armizan said. Tenom: Sabahans must ensure that Sabah-based parties form the backbone of future Sabah governments so that Sabah's interests and rights will always be protected. Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Deputy Sec-Gen Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said his advice is justified based on past bitter experiences, citing the passing of the controversial Territorial Sea Act in 2012 (TSA 2012) – which limits state powers to only three nautical miles from the shore. Advertisement Saying this must never be repeated, he noted that there were leaders who were silent like mice when the TSA was tabled and passed in Parliament back in 2012, but are now vocal about state rights. Although he did not identify them, it is believed that he was referring to leaders in Sabah Umno and Barisan Nasional. 'There are leaders who were Members of Parliament (MPs) or even federal ministers in 2012. They should explain why they are only raising objections now (on the TSA). 'Why did they not protest when the Bill was tabled in Cabinet and Parliament in 2012 until it became law? These are records of parties and leaders that cannot be erased from history,' he added. The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said this is why it is crucial that the backbone of the state government must be a local party to keep Sabah's priorities at the forefront. 'The core of the Federal and State Governments should come from different parties that ensures the relationship between the Federal and State Governments remains inter-governmental, not merely intra-party. 'This kind of relationship underpins the current alignment where the Federal Government's core is Pakatan Harapan (PH), while the State Government's core is GRS. The national parties form the backbone at the federal level, and local parties form the backbone at the state level, a political model that must be maintained,' he said. Armizan was speaking at the annual meeting of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) of Melalap, here, on Saturday. He said a clear example of the importance of maintaining this political model is in the drafting of the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Act 2025, which was passed in Parliament in March 2025 (Dewan Rakyat on March 6, 2025, Dewan Negara on March 25 2025). He said the CCUS Act only applies for peninsula after getting Sabah, Sarawak's input. 'The original plan was for the CCUS Bill to cover the entire country. However, following feedback from the Sabah government under GRS and the Sarawak government under GPS, the Federal Cabinet agreed to limit its application to Peninsular Malaysia and FT Labuan. 'This was made possible because the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is committed to recognising the special position of Sabah and Sarawak as provided in the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),' he said. While emphasising that Sabah does not reject national parties, Armizan who is also Member of Parliament for Papar pointed out that Sabah Cabinet also includes PH elected people representatives. 'This ensures state matters are always discussed within the structure of inter-governmental relations, and not negotiated internally within a single party first,' he said. Armizan attributed the difference in outcomes between 2012 and 2025 to two factors: first, in 2012 both the federal and state governments were led and dominated by the same national party, unlike today where the federal core is a national party and the state core is a local party. Secondly, he said almost all of Sabah's MPs at the time were in national parties or coalitions and thus bound by national party decisions, which dictated their votes in Parliament. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Armizan on hypocrisy of certain Sabah leaders in past Federal Cabinet representing peninsula parties: Sabah parties must lead Sabah
Published on: Sunday, July 06, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 06, 2025 By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: The national parties form the backbone at the federal level, and local parties form the backbone at the state level, a political model that must be maintained,' Armizan said. Tenom: Sabahans must ensure that Sabah-based parties form the backbone of future Sabah governments so that Sabah's interests and rights will always be protected. Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Deputy Sec-Gen Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said his advice is justified based on past bitter experiences, citing the passing of the controversial Territorial Sea Act in 2012 (TSA 2012) – which limits state powers to only three nautical miles from the shore. Advertisement Saying this must never be repeated, he noted that there were leaders who were silent like mice when the TSA was tabled and passed in Parliament back in 2012, but are now vocal about state rights. Although he did not identify them, it is believed that he was referring to leaders in Sabah Umno and Barisan Nasional. 'There are leaders who were Members of Parliament (MPs) or even federal ministers in 2012. They should explain why they are only raising objections now (on the TSA). 'Why did they not protest when the Bill was tabled in Cabinet and Parliament in 2012 until it became law? These are records of parties and leaders that cannot be erased from history,' he added. The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said this is why it is crucial that the backbone of the state government must be a local party to keep Sabah's priorities at the forefront. 'The core of the Federal and State Governments should come from different parties that ensures the relationship between the Federal and State Governments remains inter-governmental, not merely intra-party. 'This kind of relationship underpins the current alignment where the Federal Government's core is Pakatan Harapan (PH), while the State Government's core is GRS. The national parties form the backbone at the federal level, and local parties form the backbone at the state level, a political model that must be maintained,' he said. Armizan was speaking at the annual meeting of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) of Melalap, here, on Saturday. He said a clear example of the importance of maintaining this political model is in the drafting of the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Act 2025, which was passed in Parliament in March 2025 (Dewan Rakyat on March 6, 2025, Dewan Negara on March 25 2025). He said the CCUS Act only applies for peninsula after getting Sabah, Sarawak's input. 'The original plan was for the CCUS Bill to cover the entire country. However, following feedback from the Sabah government under GRS and the Sarawak government under GPS, the Federal Cabinet agreed to limit its application to Peninsular Malaysia and FT Labuan. 'This was made possible because the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is committed to recognising the special position of Sabah and Sarawak as provided in the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),' he said. While emphasising that Sabah does not reject national parties, Armizan who is also Member of Parliament for Papar pointed out that Sabah Cabinet also includes PH elected people representatives. 'This ensures state matters are always discussed within the structure of inter-governmental relations, and not negotiated internally within a single party first,' he said. Armizan attributed the difference in outcomes between 2012 and 2025 to two factors: first, in 2012 both the federal and state governments were led and dominated by the same national party, unlike today where the federal core is a national party and the state core is a local party. Secondly, he said almost all of Sabah's MPs at the time were in national parties or coalitions and thus bound by national party decisions, which dictated their votes in Parliament. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Armizan: CCUS Act shows why Sabah needs strong local party leadership
Armizan with delegates of the PGRS Melalap division during the annual conference. TENOM (July 5): The enactment of the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Act 2025, which applies only to Peninsular Malaysia, underscores the importance of having a strong local party as the backbone of the Sabah State Government, said Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy secretary Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. Speaking at the official opening of the PGRS Melalap division's annual conference here on Saturday, Armizan reminded delegates that safeguarding Sabah's rights requires a careful balance between national and local political forces. 'It is crucial to ensure that local parties form the core of the State Government. This guarantees that Federal-State relations are inter-governmental in nature — not merely intra-party,' he said. Citing the recent passage of the CCUS Act 2025, Armizan said the law initially sought nationwide implementation. 'But the Federal Cabinet later agreed to limit its application to only Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan after hearing the views of the Sabah Government led by GRS, and the Sarawak Government led by GPS,' he explained. He attributed the decision to a Federal leadership that respects Sabah and Sarawak's special positions under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and that is open to constructive engagement with the two State Governments. 'This is the benefit of having a different core at each level of government. The Federal Government is led by a national coalition, while the State Government is anchored by local parties. This setup ensures state interests are debated government-to-government—not lost in internal party politics,' he said. Armizan contrasted this with the Territorial Sea Act (TSA) 2012, which restricts Sabah's territorial waters to just three nautical miles. 'Today, some leaders are vocal in opposing the TSA 2012. But where were they then? Some were Members of Parliament and even Federal ministers when the Bill was passed in 2012,' he said in a Facebook post. He pointed out that the Sabah Government under GRS has consistently maintained that the TSA 2012 does not apply to Sabah, as it was never tabled or passed in the State Legislative Assembly. 'This is the historical record of certain parties and leaders. They cannot erase it. They must explain why they only now choose to speak up,' he added. Armizan said two key factors explain the difference in outcomes between the TSA 2012 and the CCUS Act 2025: 1. In 2012, both the Federal and State Governments were dominated by the same national party. 2. In 2025, Sabah's State Government is led by a local party, while the Federal Government remains nationally focused. He also noted that nearly every Sabah MP in 2012 was part of a national coalition and bound by its decisions, including how to vote in Parliament. Armizan clarified that Sabah does not reject national parties entirely, pointing out that the current State Government still includes representatives from Pakatan Harapan (PH). 'But what matters is that the core must remain local to keep Sabah's interests at the forefront. Only then can issues affecting the State be resolved through true government-to-government engagement, not just internal party discussions,' he said.
Daily Express
16-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Why Sabah PH-BN quiet on these MA63 issues?
Published on: Friday, May 16, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 16, 2025 Text Size: 'Upko and PBRS claim to be bridges to Putrajaya? They are more like pipelines draining Sabah's wealth straight to Kuala Lumpur,' Yong said. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) accused the State's PH-BN coalition of staying silent on important oil and gas lawsuits while Sarawak aggressively challenges Federal laws in court. SAPP Supreme Council member cum Vice Youth Chief, lawyer Yong Yit Jee, dismissed claims by Upko and PBRS that they are securing Sabah's rights. Advertisement 'Sarawak is fighting tooth and nail in court, but Sabah PH-BN is using 'good relations' as an excuse while our resources are taken away,' Yong said. He pointed to the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA1974) and Territorial Sea Act 2012 (TSA2012) as laws that have undermined Sabah and Sarawak's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The criticism comes as Sabah NGO Sabar mounts a legal challenge against TSA2012, a move the Sabah Chief Minister has supported, stating the State does not recognise the law. 'Upko and PBRS claim to be bridges to Putrajaya? They are more like pipelines draining Sabah's wealth straight to Kuala Lumpur,' Yong said. 'Sarawak sues, while Sabah PH-BN settles for handshakes and empty promises,' Yong said, questioning the two parties' impact where they boast about resolving 13 MA63 issues. He called out Upko's Federal minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, for failing to amend PDA1974 or deliver the promised 40 per cent revenue formula by July 2024. 'It is now May 2025, where is the formula? Where is our money?' Yong said, referring to Ewon's September 2023 announcement. SAPP, which has long opposed PDA1974, TSA2012 and the loss of oil-rich Blocks L and M to Brunei, is now demanding Sabah PH-BN clarify its stance. 'Will they remain Federal puppets or finally stand with Sarawak to reclaim Sabah's full MA63 rights?' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
SAPP slams Sabah PH-BN over ‘negotiation excuse'
KOTA KINABALU (May 15): Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Supreme Council member cum Vice Youth chief Yong Yit Jee has slammed Sabah's PH-BN coalition for their silence on oil and gas lawsuits, while Sarawak aggressively challenges federal laws – dismissing UPKO/PBRS' claims of securing Sabah's rights as empty rhetoric. 'While Sarawak fights tooth and nail in court, Sabah PH-BN hides behind the excuse of 'good relations' as our resources get plundered,' Yong said, detailing how the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA1974) and Territorial Sea Act 2012 (TSA2012) have systematically eroded Sabah and Sarawak's MA63 rights. The criticism comes amid Sabah NGO SABAR's landmark legal challenge against TSA2012 – a case that the Sabah State Government through Chief Minister has confirmed that Sabah does not recognise TSA2012. 'UPKO and PBRS claim to be bridges to Putrajaya? More like pipelines draining Sabah's wealth straight to Kuala Lumpur,' Yong, a lawyer, fired. Despite UPKO and PBRS boasting about resolving 13 MA63 issues, Yong retorted: 'Sarawak sues while Sabah PH-BN settles for empty smiles at negotiation tables.' The SAPP leader specifically called out UPKO's federal minister Datuk Ewon Benedick: 'No effort to amend PDA1974 in Cabinet. No sign of the 40% revenue formula promised by July 2024. We're now in May 2025 – where's the formula? where's our money?' referencing Ewon's September 2023 announcement. Yong challenged UPKO and PBRS to prove their commitment by pressuring the federal government to drop its appeal against the Sabah Law Society's case on Sabah's 40% revenue rights. SAPP, with a decades-long record of fighting PDA1974, TSA2012 and for the 40% tax revenue – including opposing the giveaway of oil-rich Blocks L and M to Brunei – now demands Sabah PH-BN declare their true allegiance: 'Will they remain federal puppets, or finally stand with Sarawak to reclaim Sabah's full MA63 rights?' Ewon and PBRS president Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup have recently issued a joint statement stating that as members of the current national political coalition, their parties see themselves as 'Sabah's bridge to Putrajaya,' working alongside other parties to consistently raise key issues affecting the state, including the MA63. 'The 'Sabah First' struggle requires cooperation among all political parties in the state. This must be achieved through wise and consultative engagement between the federal and state governments, not through confrontation,' they said. Ewon and Arthur added that both UPKO and PBRS have raised numerous Sabah-related issues through their coalition platforms, including at the Cabinet level which they said has proven effective, with nine MA63-related demands fulfilled under the current federal government, while four were resolved under the previous administration.
