KOTA KINABALU, SABAH, MALAYSIA Nov 9, 2025 – In a rallying cry to Sabahans ahead of state polls, PKR Deputy President Nurul Izzah Anwar acknowledged the daunting challenges but urged unwavering resolve to secure the state’s long-overdue rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“I know this is going to be a hard battle ahead but this is exactly why we must keep going,” Nurul Izzah said in a media statement titled “Meneruskan Harapan Urang Sabah” (Continuing the Hopes of Sabahans), emphasizing PKR’s commitment to contesting several seats following discussions with fellow reformist allies.
The statement comes as the MADANI Government, led by her father Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim since November 2022, marks three years of accelerated MA63 implementation. Nurul Izzah highlighted that the administration has resolved nine key demands—achievements she said eluded previous governments—through unprecedented steps like enhanced autonomy for Sabah and Sarawak in areas such as taxation, immigration, and resource management.
“Since the MADANI Government took over in 2022, efforts to champion MA63 implementation have been intensified, accelerated, and pursued with greater seriousness,” she noted, crediting the progress to directives from Anwar. Recent milestones include the resolution of claims on judicial powers, state royalties, and territorial sea boundaries, with ongoing talks chaired by Anwar in September 2025 underscoring a commitment to “harmonious” dialogue.
However, Nurul Izzah warned that the journey is only halfway complete. “Do not halt this effort. Do not let this struggle stop midway,” she implored, cautioning that ousting the MADANI coalition would reset three years of gains back to square one. She called for stronger grassroots support from Sabahans to “truly fulfill the fight for Sabah’s rights.”
Turning to past shortcomings, she lambasted the previous Warisan-led administration, which governed for 26 months from 2018 to 2020 under the “Sabah Ubah” (Change Sabah) slogan popularized by Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.” Back then, a party loudly chanted ‘Sabah Ubah’ throughout their 26 months in power. But sadly, the people felt no change. State financial reserves declined, the economy slumped by nearly 10 percent, and promises to resolve the water crisis within a year went unfulfilled,” she charged.
Official data supports some of these critiques: Sabah’s economy contracted amid global headwinds during Warisan’s tenure, with growth dipping below national averages, though recovery has been debated under subsequent governments. The state’s chronic water woes, exacerbated by Shafie’s 2019 decision to terminate contracts with six concessionaires managing 58 treatment plants, have persisted, drawing accusations of mismanagement from opponents. Warisan, campaigning for a comeback in the upcoming polls, has pledged to end the crisis within a year if returned to power.
Nurul Izzah contrasted this with PKR’s track record: “This time, we ensure real progress reaches every layer of society, Insya-Allah.” She affirmed Sabah’s entitlement to “the best” as a dignified and sovereign state, invoking a Kadazan proverb: “Osusa Toi Asanang Tomoimo Miiso” – “Whether in hardship or ease, joy or sorrow, we stand together.”
PKR’s push aligns with the broader Pakatan Harapan coalition’s strategy to retain influence in Sabah, where MA63 remains a flashpoint. As Anwar’s administration eyes the 13th Malaysia Plan’s reforms, Nurul Izzah’s message underscores the party’s pledge: “This is KEADILAN’s commitment to Sabah – proven through work and sincerity, not mere words.”
