Kota Kinabalu: Reforming and empowering Sabah’s legal and institutional framework will be one of the key pillars in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s (GRS) manifesto for the coming 17th State Election, said GRS Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
Armizan, also the Chairman of the GRS Manifesto Technical Committee, said the legal reform agenda is not a new promise but continuation of a process that began in 2021 and will be strengthened from 2026.
He said the agenda aims to empower state institutions to handle state laws more effectively, including improving regulations related to property and strata ownership, a longstanding issue in Sabah.
“Currently, for some areas, the legal route requires going through federal laws. Through these reforms, we want to strengthen our State-level framework so that Sabah has clearer, faster and more efficient legal processes,” he told a press conference, Monday.
Armizan said the State Attorney-General’s Office now prosecutes criminal cases under State laws, a power previously held only by the Federal Attorney-General’s Office.
This was formalised through a Federal Gazette dated April 6, 2023, which created the Enforcement and Prosecution Division within the State Attorney-General’s Office.
“This reform means any agency must now seek approval from the State Attorney-General before prosecuting any offence under Sabah laws, such as land ordinances, forestry or environmental cases.
“It ensures more efficient prosecution and stronger enforcement at the State level,” he explained.
Since GRS took over the State Government in November 2020, the administration has passed or amended 51 state enactments.
These include major laws such as the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Enactment 2022, the Sabah Energy Commission Enactment 2023, the Gas Supply Enactment 2023, the Sabah State Constitution (Amendment) 2023 introducing anti-party-hopping provisions, the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024, the Renewable Energy Enactment 2024 and the Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025.
Armizan said GRS’s institutional reforms have been impactful.
As part of the next phase, the GRS Government established the Sabah Law Reform Advisory Council (SLRAC) on July 31, 2025, as an independent advisory body to review and modernise state laws.
The council is chaired by former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri David Wong Dak Wah, and includes experienced legal practitioners such as Datuk Daniel Tan Jwee Peng, Dr David Fung Yin Kee, Datuk John Sikayun, Datuk Roger Chin Ken Fong and Puan Shakinur Ain Karama.
“SLRAC will advise the Government on legal and institutional improvements by gathering input from stakeholders, including NGOs, civil societies, industries and the public.
“This ensures that the laws we reform are not only effective but people-centred,” he said.
Armizan added that the GRS manifesto, which will be launched after the nomination process, also includes achievements from the past five years and realistic timelines to resolve core issues such as water, electricity and roads, instead of offering “empty promises.”On the issue of five Star assemblymen who left to join GRS, he said they can either choose a party or become GRS direct members.
“GRS is a legitimate political entity recognised by the Registrar of Societies and the Election Commission. I myself contested under the GRS logo in the last general election, so there is no question about its legality,” he said.
He also clarified that candidates contesting as direct GRS members will be treated according to the coalition’s constitution and Election Commission rules.
“If someone contests under GRS direct membership, and later jumps to another component party, that will be considered party-hopping under the anti-hopping laws. So there will be no loopholes,” he said.
On whether suggestions from former component parties such as Star and SAPP will remain part of the manifesto, he said they would.
“Even though they are no longer within GRS, their earlier proposals and recommendations reflected the concerns of Sabahans. So we will still consider them, because GRS represents all Sabahans,” he said.
Armizan stressed that the GRS manifesto will highlight not just future plans but proven records of governance.
“GRS is not just promising change, we are delivering it through bold, structured and people-oriented reforms.
“Our goal is to make Sabah’s governance cleaner, faster and fairer,” he said.
