KOTA KINABALU, SABAH, MALAYSIA Oct 13, 2025 – The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition has unveiled ambitious plans for legal and institutional reforms as a cornerstone of its manifesto for the upcoming Sabah State Election (PRN) in 2025, building on initiatives launched between 2021 and 2025 to be further solidified starting in 2026.
Since assuming the reins of the state government in November 2020, GRS has prioritized strengthening state legislation, enacting or amending 51 state enactments to address key areas of governance. Among the highlights are the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Enactment 2022, Sabah Energy Commission Enactment 2023, Gas Supply Enactment 2023, Sabah Constitution (Amendment) Enactment 2023—introducing anti-party hopping provisions—the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024, Sabah Renewable Energy Enactment 2024, and the Sabah Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025.
In a push for institutional overhaul, GRS has empowered the Sabah State Attorney General’s Department (JPBNS) to independently handle all criminal cases under state laws. This includes the appointment of the State Attorney General and JPBNS legal officers as Deputy Public Prosecutors under the Criminal Procedure Code, a move endorsed by the Attorney General’s Chambers to boost enforcement and prosecution efficiency.
The empowerment was formalized through a Federal Government Gazette on April 6, 2023, leading to the creation of an Enforcement and Prosecution Division within JPBNS. Under the new framework, state agencies must now seek JPBNS approval before initiating prosecutions for offenses under laws such as the Land Ordinance, Forestry Enactment, and Environmental Protection Enactment, allowing the department to focus more sharply on state-specific violations rather than relying on federal oversight.
Looking ahead, GRS outlined fresh strategies under its renewed mandate, including the establishment of the independent Sabah Law Reform Advisory Council (SLRAC) on July 31, 2025. SLRAC will conduct comprehensive reviews of existing state laws and propose targeted reforms to enhance clarity, effectiveness, fairness, and relevance.
For the 2025/2026 term, the council is chaired by Tan Sri David Wong Dak Wah, former Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak, with members including seasoned legal practitioners Datuk Daniel Tan Jwee Peng, Dr. David Fung Yin Kee, Datuk John Sikayun, Datuk Roger Chin Ken Fong, and Puan Shakinur Ain binti Karama.
“These reforms demonstrate that GRS is not just promising change but delivering it strategically and boldly,” said Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, GRS Deputy Secretary-General, in a statement emphasizing the coalition’s track record and commitment to Sabah’s progress.
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