Sabah, the Land Below the Wind, is celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultural tapestry. Yet beneath its natural beauty lies one of Malaysia’s most controversial and politically explosive episodes - the alleged covert citizenship initiative widely known as “Project IC.”
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Political analyst James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania and originally from Kuching, Sarawak, has repeatedly highlighted what many Sabahans consider the state’s “darkest secret”: the dramatic demographic transformation that saw indigenous communities gradually become minorities in their own homeland.
The Demographic Earthquake
In the 1960s, Sabah’s Muslim population stood at approximately 31%. By 1980, it had surged to 51%. Fast forward to 2010, and the figure reached 65.4%, climbing further to nearly 70% in 2020.
This sharp increase coincided with large-scale migration from the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia. While migration alone does not explain demographic shifts, critics argue that the scale and speed of change in Sabah were unprecedented.
The indigenous communities - collectively known as Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) - once formed the backbone of Sabah’s demographic majority. Today, many among them believe they have been politically sidelined, their influence diluted by a sudden expansion of new citizens.
What Was Project IC?
“Project IC” refers to allegations that Malaysian identity cards were systematically issued to undocumented migrants, primarily Muslims from the Philippines and Indonesia, during the 1980s and 1990s.
The alleged objective? To reshape Sabah’s electoral landscape.
By granting citizenship - and thus voting rights - to these migrants, federal-aligned political forces could potentially secure stronger support for parties such as United Malays National Organisation in Barisan Nasional, which expanded aggressively into Sabah in the 1990s.
Supporters of this view argue that the policy was less about humanitarian considerations and more about political arithmetic.
Political Power Rewritten
The demographic shift had profound consequences. Sabah’s political dominance gradually tilted toward Muslim-based parties, altering the state’s balance of power.
Local-based parties that once represented largely non-Muslim indigenous interests found themselves facing a transformed electorate. Over time, federal-linked parties gained stronger footholds, fundamentally changing Sabah’s governance dynamics.
For many Sabahans, this was not merely demographic change - it was social engineering.
A National Blind Spot
Despite affecting potentially millions of people, Project IC remains poorly understood in Peninsular Malaysia. Many Malaysians are unaware of the scale of Sabah’s demographic transformation or its political implications.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) set up in 2012 examined the issue, acknowledging the existence of irregularities in citizenship documentation. However, debates continue over the full extent, intent, and accountability behind the initiative.
A Question of Identity and Justice
For indigenous Sabahans, the issue is deeply emotional. It touches on land rights, political representation, economic opportunities, and cultural survival.
Sabah’s story is not merely about migration. It is about trust in institutions, the integrity of citizenship, and the delicate balance between national unity and regional autonomy.
From Sabah's darkest secret to an open truth, understanding Sabah’s demographic transformation is essential to grasping Malaysia's political power game to manoeuvre votes in favor of federal interests. The betrayal of patriotism in Project IC is not merely a historical issue but an alleged act of treason by its architects, carried out without punishment - and it continues to shape the political and social realities of the state today.
By: Kpost
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