Resurgence of the Borneo States: Regional Power Blocs and the Reshaping of Malaysia’s Centralised Federal-State Relations
This seminar examines the renewed political assertiveness of Malaysia’s Borneo States - Sabah and Sarawak - and their evolving roles as regional power blocs within Malaysia’s changing federalism.
Both states share a common aspiration: to realise the promises of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), often regarded as the foundational charter of Malaysia’s formation. Yet, their trajectories in pursuing greater autonomy have diverged. Sarawak has been relatively more successful in extracting concessions and negotiating devolved powers from the federal government.
This is attributed to the state’s insulated political environment, dominated by local-based parties since 2018, which has allowed for consistent and coordinated bargaining, reinforced by Sarawak’s role in ensuring the survival of its federal ally at the national level. Sabah, by contrast, has experienced a more fragmented political arena marked by frequent realignments, the long shadow of UMNO’s two-decade dominance, and the continued presence of national-based parties competing for influence.
Ahead of the 17th Sabah State Election held at the end of November 2025, the local coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) faced a critical juncture -- an opportunity to consolidate its position and emulate Sarawak’s Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which has maintained firm control over state politics and leveraged its influence in negotiating greater power with the federal government. The seminar considers whether Sabah and Sarawak can maintain their momentum as regional power centres capable of reshaping Malaysia’s long-centralised federal-state relations.
Speaker & chair biographies
Dr Arnold Puyok is a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre and a Senior Lecturer in Politics and Government Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). His work examines political developments in the Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak, with particular attention to regionalism and ethnic politics. His recent publications include Autonomy in Sarawak and Sabah: Different paths and diverging outcomes (Trends in Southeast Asia 28/24, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute) and The ethnic factor in Sabah politics: Competing loyalties, coalitional strategies and electoral volatility (ISEAS Perspective No. 84, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute).
Prof. John Sidel is Director of the Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre, and the Sir Patrick Gillam Professor of International and Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
*Banner photo by Masrur Rahman on Unsplash
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