Spotlight on...

SEAC Visiting Senior Fellow

Introducing SEAC Visiting Senior Fellow Dr Arnold Puyok, a Senior Lecturer in Politics and Government Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

He is a founding member of the Territorial Autonomy Study Group based at the Education University of Hong Kong and currently serve as a Senior Visiting Fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. His research examines the political dynamics of Sabah and Sarawak, particularly the resurgence of ‘regionalism’ in the Borneo states and its implications for Malaysian federalism. He also explores the intersection of culture—especially ethnic identity—and political processes across the Borneo States and neighbouring Kalimantan.

He is currently working on two books: one on the autonomy and regionalism movement in Sabah and Sarawak, and the other on the role of ethnicity in the electoral politics of the Borneo States. He writes regularly on current political and socioeconomic issues in Sabah and Sarawak on The Borneo Notebook at https://theborneonotebook.substack.com/

My project compares how the Bornean States of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia articulate and negotiate demands for greater autonomy and how the federal government responds to these claims -- whether through accommodation, tolerance, or resistance.

What will you be working on during your time as a SEAC Visiting Fellow?

During my fellowship at SEAC, I aim to extend the arguments developed in my monograph, Autonomy in Sabah and Sarawak: Different Paths and Diverging Outcomes, published by the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, examining the evolving autonomy struggles in the Bornean States of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia. My project compares how both states articulate and negotiate demands for greater autonomy and how the federal government responds to these claims -- whether through accommodation, tolerance, or resistance.

At SEAC, I hope to broaden this analysis by engaging with comparative cases such as Scotland and Catalonia. Based on my reading thus far, these regions offer valuable insights into what drives autonomy movements, how central governments manage or accommodate regional claims, and the institutional mechanisms that shape outcomes – even though I remain open to exploring other suitable comparative cases in Europe. Through this comparative lens, I aim to identify patterns of regional contestation and explore policy remedies that Sabah and Sarawak might draw upon as they continue to assert their autonomous positions within the Malaysian federation.

What led you to your field of study, or what inspired your interest in these topics?

My interest in this field is deeply personal. Having grown up in both Sabah and Sarawak, I witnessed first-hand how political elites in the two states struggled to assert greater state rights and resist federal encroachment. Over the years, some leaders were politically marginalised, threatened, or coerced, while others were forced to capitulate under federal pressure.

Although the fall of the long-dominant Barisan Nasional (BN) at the federal level reshaped federal–state relations and strengthened the political standing of the Bornean States, the struggle for autonomy remains ongoing. These changing political dynamics raise pivotal questions: What policy or institutional reforms are needed to safeguard the autonomy of Sabah and Sarawak while preserving the integrity of the Malaysian federation? What might be the long-term implications for Malaysia if the demands of the Borneon States continue to be left unresolved -- or, conversely, if the federal government chooses to fully accommodate them? These questions continue to drive my academic curiosity and scholarly work.

How do you like to relax and unwind?

I enjoy exploring cafés and bars, especially those with rich histories or unique identities. These spaces are where I write my personal journals, read, or strike up conversations with people I meet along the way. I am also an avid movie enthusiast, particularly drawn to films with strong historical or biographical themes.