Speaking to FMT, Andrew Aeria of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said opposition parties in Sabah and Sarawak must fight for issues that go beyond the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), a document that East Malaysian parties from both sides of the political divide have been referring to in their rhetoric on the rights of the two states.

In recent times, local sentiments have led to an increase in local-based opposition parties, some of which have rejected the presence of not only Barisan Nasional, but also opposition parties headquartered in Peninsular Malaysia.

In the campaign for last May’s Sarawak election, both Sarawak BN and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru called for the rejection of all parties based in the peninsula.

In July, Borneo opposition coalition Gabungan Rakyat Saksama (Saksama) spokesperson Lina Soo said the seven-member grouping would work with Pakatan Harapan only if the coalition stayed out of Sabah and Sarawak.

However, Aeria said it would be wrong to blame the “Peninsular Malaysian bogeyman” for all of Sabah’s and Sarawak’s problems.

The reality, he said, was that the ruling elites in Sabah and Sarawak were ultimately responsible for administering the two states and for resolving issues of wages, welfare, education, infrastructure, environmental health and sustainable development.

“The opposition must clearly outline measures to ensure good governance, transparency and accountability,” he said.