When Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) were pressured into surrendering independence without a referendum under emergency conditions, to accept the federation in 1963, it was under the clear understanding that Malaysia would be a secular, inclusive federation, where religious freedom and equality were guaranteed. This secular framework was a foundational element of MA63, and it was a crucial factor in convincing Sarawak (and Sabah) to accept federation with Malaya and Singapore, particularly under the challenging conditions of the time.
Anwar's push towards Islamising Malaysia is aimed at dismantling this secular foundation. His agenda to promote Islam as the dominant force in Malaysian governance directly contradicts the secular promises made in the founding agreements of Malaysia. This effort to institutionalise Islam in all aspects of state and society undermines Malaysia's pluralistic, multi-religious fabric and erodes the secular character that was agreed upon.
If Anwar wishes to create an Islamic state, he is free to pursue that vision, but it should be within the context of his own ideological platform, not at the expense of Malaysia’s historical and constitutional commitments.
The Basic Structure Doctrine, which the judiciary has long upheld, affirms that certain principles of the Constitution, including secularism, cannot be altered or abolished through amendments or political agendas. Secularism, as established in MA63, is a core element of Malaysia’s constitutional structure. Any move to impose religious governance, as advocated by Anwar Ibrahim, is not just a policy shift; it is a violation of the Basic Structure Doctrine and a breach of the agreement that established Malaysia as a multi-religious and pluralistic federation. Under this doctrine, secularism is an inviolable principle that cannot be dismantled through political expediency or religious agendas.
The National Economic Policy (NEP) which has already played a significant role in shaping Malaysia's socio-political landscape, has exacerbated the erosion of secularism by institutionalising a race-religion apartheid system. The NEP, originally designed to address economic disparities, has become a tool for entrenching ethnic and religious divisions within the state's political and economic systems. The policy privileges one ethnic group—Malays and Bumiputera (who are predominantly Muslim)—and reinforces the link between race and religion, creating a hierarchical system in which religious identity plays a central role in determining political and economic privileges.
This system, while aimed at addressing historical imbalances, has transformed over time into a form of race-religion apartheid, where access to opportunities and resources is based not just on ethnicity, but also on religious identity. This has led to a situation where political power, economic opportunities, and even educational access are concentrated within the Muslim Malay majority, at the expense of Malaysia's non-Muslim and non-Malay communities. The NEP’s entrenchment of these divisions—coupled with Anwar Ibrahim’s Islamic state agenda—has created a political and social structure that increasingly privileges Islam and Malay identity in a way that contradicts the secular foundation of the Federation.
By intertwining ethnicity and religion in this way, Malaysia’s secular institutions have been weakened. What was once a pluralistic society, where citizens were to be treated equally regardless of race or religion, has become a state where Islam and Malay ethnicity dominate the public sphere. This shift directly contradicts the secular values enshrined in Malaysia's Constitution and the promises made in MA63, further eroding the foundational principles of the Federation.
Anwar’s policies, particularly his support for the rise of Islamic governance, are not merely ideological shifts but are a threat to Malaysia’s constitutional integrity. Secularism, as guaranteed in MA63, forms part of the basic structure of the federation. The erosion of secularism through policies such as the NEP, alongside Anwar’s Islamic agenda, risks dismantling Malaysia's foundational framework, creating a political structure that privileges one religion and ethnicity over others.
From the perspective of international law, particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Malaysia is bound to respect religious freedom and equality before the law. Anwar’s push for Islamization, combined with the NEP's entrenchment of race-religion-based policies, directly contradicts these international commitments, particularly in its marginalisation of religious minorities. The UDHR emphasises that all people, regardless of religion, race, or ethnicity, should have equal rights and opportunities. By institutionalising race and religion-based policies, Anwar’s agenda violates both domestic constitutional law and international human rights principles.
Moreover, Sarawak, which entered the Federation on the understanding that it would maintain its secular, pluralistic identity, is particularly vulnerable to these shifts. Sarawak was promised autonomy in religious matters and guaranteed protection for its diverse religious communities, which include significant Christian, Buddhist, and indigenous populations. Any attempt to impose an Islamic state and prioritise Islam over other religions threatens Sarawak’s very identity and autonomy. If Malaysia continues on this path, Sarawak must seriously consider its right to self-determination. The foundational promises made in MA63 have been undermined, and Sarawak, like any sovereign entity, has the right to reconsider its place in the Federation.
Sarawak’s push for independence is both a desire to break from Malaysia, and a defence of its historical agreements, its cultural and religious diversity, and the secular values that were promised.
If Malaysia cannot respect the MA63 secular framework that was foundational to the Federation, Sarawak must assert its right to independence. Malaysia’s future stability and unity depend on upholding the secular promises made to all its citizens, and if those promises are broken, Sarawak and other communities must look to their right to self-determination.
In conclusion, the combined effects of Anwar Ibrahim’s Islamic agenda and the NEP’s institutionalised race-religion apartheid have already significantly eroded the secular principles on which Malaysia was built. Respect for the secular framework is essential for Malaysia's stability and unity. However, MA63 and The Basic Structure Doctrine safeguards secularism as a core element of the Constitution, and any attempt to alter this structure is unconstitutional. If Malaysia’s commitment to secularism, pluralism, and equality cannot be preserved, then Sarawak (and Sabah) must reconsider its position in the Federation and Malaya is free to be a religious state. It is clear that these agreements continue to be violated and Sarawak must assert its right to independence.
Robert Pei, 
