As Malaysia stands at a political crossroads, many once-prominent multiracial parties in Peninsular Malaysia — especially the MCA, MIC, and several other centrist platforms — find themselves in the wilderness.
Their traditional voter bases have eroded, their messages drowned out by polarising narratives, and their roles overshadowed by an increasingly fragmented political landscape.
But renewal does not begin with nostalgia. Renewal begins with rediscovery.
And to rediscover the original essence of Malaysia, these parties must look eastwards — to Sabah and Sarawak, to MA63, and to the enduring royal vision of unity upheld by the institution of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Sabah and Sarawak: Custodians of the Malaysia we lost
While Peninsular politics has become locked in a cycle of ethnic anxiety and religious contestation, Sabah and Sarawak have remained steadfast in their inclusive and pragmatic approach to governance.
In these regions, multiracial cooperation is not a political branding exercise — it is the everyday reality that ensures stability. Muslims, Christians, and diverse indigenous communities share power in harmony, without the constant tension that characterises politics in the Peninsula.
Their politics reflect the Malaysia that was imagined in 1963 – a federation of diversity, equality, and mutual respect.
For the MCA, MIC, and similar parties, connecting with Sabah and Sarawak is not merely strategic — it is a return to the foundational purpose that once defined them.
MA63: The blueprint for a fair and equal Federation
The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is often discussed in legal terms, but its significance goes deeper. MA63 is the moral and constitutional backbone of Malaysia’s formation.
It reflects a promise: that Sabah and Sarawak would join the federation not as subordinates, but as equal partners with guaranteed autonomy, cultural recognition, and economic safeguards.
It is also a blueprint for the inclusive Malaysia we desperately need today.
MA63 reinforces the idea that Malaysia was never meant to be a mono-ethnic or mono-religious state. It was crafted as a partnership of nations — Sabah, Sarawak, and Malaya, with Singapore originally included — bound by trust, fairness, and shared aspirations.
By championing MA63, Peninsular multiracial parties can realign themselves with what Malaysia truly stands for: Diversity protected by constitutional guarantees.
Tuanku’s vision: A national call for moderation and unity
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has, time and again, emphasised a Malaysia that honours moderation, inter-ethnic respect, and the original federal spirit. The monarchy plays a crucial role as the guardian of these values, defending the unity and harmony that form the bedrock of the nation.
But this royal vision requires political allies.
In a climate where extreme voices too often dominate public discourse, the responsibility falls on moderate parties — especially the MCA, MIC, and multiracial Peninsular-based platforms — to echo and uphold Tuanku’s message.
Sabah and Sarawak parties, particularly GRS and GPS, already embody this ethos in their governance. A partnership between Peninsular moderates and East Malaysian coalitions would create a strong moral and political counterweight against divisive elements nationwide.
A new centre of gravity for Malaysian politics
The future of Malaysia may no longer rest solely on traditional power bases. Instead, it may emerge from a new coalition of moderates, built on East Malaysia’s inclusive political culture and supported by Peninsular parties seeking relevance through principle rather than convenience.
Such an alignment would:
- Re-centre national politics on moderation.
- Reduce the dominance of racial and religious extremism.
- Strengthen federalism through genuine respect for MA63.
- Reflect the King’s aspirations for a united nation.
- Offer Malaysians an alternative that is stable, fair, and forward-looking.
This is not a retreat from West Malaysian politics — it is the construction of a new political middle ground strong enough to rebalance the nation.
Rekindling the Malaysian spirit: The East is the way forward
If Peninsular Malaysia has drifted from the founding ideals of the nation, Sabah and Sarawak have preserved them — not in rhetoric, but in daily governance, in their lived reality of multicultural coexistence.
Peninsula-based multiracial parties now have an opportunity — perhaps their last — to root themselves in that spirit. By engaging deeply with Sabah and Sarawak, by championing MA63, and by aligning with Tuanku’s vision of unity, they can reclaim their original mission – to protect harmony, to defend diversity, and to ensure that Malaysia remains a home for all.
In a time of national uncertainty, the path to renewal is clear: Look to Sabah. Look to Sarawak.
Look to the Malaysia we were meant to be.
Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker is the former deputy minister of unity.
The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.
