Armizan: CCUS Act shows why Sabah needs strong local party leadership

Borneo Post

05-07-2025

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.