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BIMP-EAGA Council urges fisheries devolution to Sabah under MA63
Dr Raymond (left) sharing the Tamparuli programme to Tuaran member of parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau. Dr Raymond is currently implementing the programme to ensure Tamparuli can be elevated as productive district in Sabah. Both also discussed the importance of restoring Sabah's right in fisheries.
KOTA KINABALU (Aug 3): The BIMP-EAGA Business Council (Malaysia-Sabah Chapter) has reaffirmed its call for the full devolution of fisheries governance to the Sabah State Government as part of a long-overdue restorative justice process under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Ita chairman, Dr Raymond Alfred, made the call amid growing national and regional conversations about the need to realign federal-state relations, especially in the governance of natural and marine resources, which are vital to Sabah's economy and cultural identity.
'The devolution of fisheries power is not just a bureaucratic reform – it is a rightful correction of historical imbalances that have long deprived Sabah of full control over its maritime wealth. We see this as a restorative justice measure in line with the spirit and substance of MA63,' said Dr Raymond.
Sabah's coastal communities, traditional fisherfolk and marine entrepreneurs continue to face confusion, double licensing, and weak enforcement mechanisms due to overlapping jurisdictions between federal and state agencies.
Dr Raymond emphasized that the Fisheries Act 1985 (Federal), while applicable to the Excusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and deep sea, should no longer override Sabah's constitutional rights over its internal waters and adjacent seas.
'Sabah has both the institutional maturity and local expertise to manage its own fisheries sustainably and inclusively. What we need is the political will to return what rightfully belongs to the people of Sabah,' he added. The BIMP-EAGA Business Council sees the devolution of fisheries governance as a strategic pillar in the development of a Blue-Green Economy in Sabah. This includes sustainable fisheries, marine-based tourism, blue carbon financing, and community-led aquaculture. Dr Raymond announced that there is a need by the Sabah State Assembly to submit a formal policy proposal to the Federal Government, calling for amendments to the Federal Fisheries Act 1985, the creation of a Sabah Marine and Fisheries Authority (SMFA), a fair revenue-sharing framework and recognition of customary fishing zones.
He urged state and federal leaders to view fisheries devolution not as a political demand, but as a constitutional and moral obligation.
'The time has come to match words with action. Restoring Sabah's autonomy over its seas is essential not only for economic empowerment, but for dignity, equity and the promise of a just Federation,' he concluded.
