Anwar: Federal Government Committed To Defending Sabah's Rights And Sovereignty

BusinessToday

a day ago

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed the federal government's unwavering commitment to defending Sabah's rights and Malaysia's territorial sovereignty, declaring that Putrajaya is prepared to take the matter to international courts if necessary.
'Sabah is an integral part of Malaysia. We will not allow even an inch of our land or sea to be encroached upon.
'Whether in Spanish courts or any other international forum, we will fight to the maximum to defend Sabah's rights,' Anwar said.
He stressed that the government has already committed tens of millions of ringgit, possibly up to RM100 million, toward legal efforts to safeguard the country's territorial integrity, following ongoing foreign claims on Sabah.
Underscoring his administration's commitment to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Anwar said the federal government is working closely with Sabah to meet long-standing development demands, ensure strong state-federal relations and deliver on key infrastructure promises.
Among the milestones highlighted was the doubling of the interim special grant for Sabah from RM300 million to RM600 million, and the RM10 billion allocation to complete the long-delayed Pan Borneo Highway.
'The project was delayed under the previous government. It may not be completed yet, but the funding has been approved and work is progressing,' Anwar noted.
He also announced significant steps to empower Sabah in managing its own utilities, including full authority over electricity supply and RM3.54 billion in subsidies through 2030.
To address chronic water issues, Anwar said RM300 million has been approved, alongside the transfer of smaller-scale infrastructure projects (under RM50 million) to the state's control.
'Our commitment is not just legal or political, it is developmental and structural. Sabah's future is Malaysia's future,' he concluded.