KOTA KINABALU: Former Kapayan Assemblywoman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang (pic) said the restoration of Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) must be seen as a shared journey for all Sabahans, not the work of one person or one party.
She reminded that Sabah’s founding leaders entered the federation in 1963 with hope and vision for an equal partnership built on mutual respect, symbolised by the Batu Sumpah (Oath Stone) in Keningau.
Jannie reflected on the State’s turbulent past, from the Double Six Tragedy to the 2013 Sulu intrusion, saying Sabahans have endured these trials with resilience and must continue defending the State’s dignity and rightful place in Malaysia.
She acknowledged the contributions of leaders such as Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, Zainal Ajamain, and Datuk Ewon Benedick in advancing MA63 from awareness to legal action, including the Sabah Law Society’s (SLS) 40 per cent revenue entitlement ruling.
Jannie urged unity among Sabahans and leaders alike, saying the MA63 struggle should rise above partisan politics and be remembered for collective perseverance, courage, and the love for Sabah’s rightful place in the federation.
