Hajiji dismisses divisive Borneo Bloc narrative, calls for cooperation to advance country

KOTA KINABALU (March 5): Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor has dismissed claims that Sabah and Sarawak are pursuing a political strategy known as the Borneo Bloc.

Former federal law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim had claimed the Borneo Bloc would enable both states to consolidate greater political control in Malaysia.

“There is no such bloc. Where is this Borneo Bloc? There is no Borneo Bloc. We are in one country, Malaysia,” Hajiji said after launching the 2026 Sabah Higher Education Student Contribution Assistance Initiative (Sentosa) here.

Hajiji said Malaysia functions as a single nation comprising Sabah, Sarawak, and the states in Peninsular Malaysia, stressing that cooperation among all parties is essential for the country’s progress.

“There is no Borneo Bloc, Sabah Bloc, Sarawak Bloc, or Peninsula Bloc. It is not like that,” he said.

He added that the focus should instead be on strengthening collaboration between the federal and state governments to further develop the country.

“What we need is cooperation between the federal government and the states, as well as among neighbouring states, so that we can further advance our country Malaysia,” he said.

Hajiji stressed that narratives about a Borneo Bloc should be corrected as they could create misunderstandings about the relationship between Sabah, Sarawak, and the rest of Malaysia.

“We cannot separate Sabah and Sarawak from the other states in Peninsular Malaysia,” he added.

On March 2, Zaid said in a social media post that the ‘Borneo Bloc’ was an example of how smart Sabahans and Sarawakians “continue to outwit and control Malaya”.

He also said Sabah and Sarawak “now challenge our laws: the Law of the Sea, PDA, Petronas and whatever else” and are claiming “30 items still outstanding from MA63”.

“They said the Borneo Bloc is to give them balance and a negotiating position. No, they already have that; now they want control.

“What do Malaya have? Malay leaders who want to be PM,” he added.