Political Development in Sabah, 1985-2012 : Challenges in Malaysian Federalism and Ethnic Politics

Arnold, Puyok (2011) Political Development in Sabah, 1985-2012 : Challenges in Malaysian Federalism and Ethnic Politics. [Working Paper]

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Abstract

Sabah is one of the thirteen states in the Federation of Malaysia. It was a former British crown colony. Sabah was incorporated into the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 together with Singapore and Sarawak. Singapore, however, was expelled from the Federation in 1965. Prior to the formation of Malaysia and its integration into the new federal State, Sabah – as multi-racial and multi-religious space – did not have official religion and language. According to the Sabah Yearbook of Statistics, Kadazan/Dusuns1 accounted for 514,400 or 17.97 per cent of Sabah’s total population in 2004, closely followed by other bumiputeras2 (indigenous people) totalling 421,000 or 14.73 per cent, Bajaus totalled 381,500 or 13.32 per cent, Malays totalled 330,600 or 11.55 per cent, Chinese totalled 277,300 or 9.68 per cent, Muruts totalled 94,000 or 3.28 per cent and other ethnic groups totalled 138,000 or 4.82 per cent.3 Non-Malaysian citizens made up 704,800 or 24.62 per cent of Sabah’s total population (Table 1). In terms of religious beliefs, 359,210 or 74.84 per cent of the Kadazan/Dusuns professed Christianity while 303,497 or 100 per cent of the Malays were Muslims. Muslim Bajaus accounted for 342,421 or 99.78 per cent as opposed to Christian Bajaus 383 or 0.11 per cent. Other ethnic groups and their religious affiliations are presented in Table 2.

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