Sabah’s Rocky Road to Malaysia

Author: Joe Samad
Publisher: SIRD
ISBN: 9786297575612
Weight: 262 g
Pages: 145 pp
Year: 2026
Price: RM35

This book is a collection of essays tracing Sabah’s tumultuous journey from North Borneo to becoming a partner in the Federation of Malaysia, a journey marked by hopes for a better future, the struggle for recognition as an equal partner, and in pursuit of the unfulfilled promises of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Drawing on books, scholarly articles, declassified documents, and historical analyses, these essays examine the unfolding events that have shaped Sabah over the past six decades. Together, they reflect not only Sabah’s growing pains but also Malaysia’s, as the nation continues its quest to become a truly prosperous and just society.

Six decades on, the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 remains central to national discourse, still debated and still negotiated by the Prime Minister and the two Chief Ministers from Sabah and Sarawak. From a legal perspective, it is clear that one party has acted in bad faith, failing to uphold the spirit and terms agreed upon by the founding fathers of this federation.

The pressing question, then, is this: when will Malaysia arrive at a fair and final understanding of MA63 and Sabah’s rights as an autonomous region within the federation? In the regional context, Aceh and Mindanao have already attained special autonomous status, while Sabah and Sarawak continue their long struggle for meaningful recognition of themselves.

Often depicted as politically volatile, Sabah is, in truth, a land of resilience and complexity. Its story is one of survival, navigating external pressures, internal upheavals, and the enduring tests of autonomy. Ultimately, these essays reveal that Sabah’s rocky path to Malaysia is also a testament to its unwavering quest for identity, equality, and its rightful place as an equal partner in the Malaysian federation.

Readers of this book will gain a deeper understanding of Sabah North Borneo, its past struggles, present realities, and the continuing journey toward justice and parity within the nation.