Sabah insists border control law must not erode state immigration powers

 By Olivia Miwil

July 22, 2026 @ 2:12pm

Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the Act falls under the federal government's jurisdiction. File pic

KOTA KINABALU: The implementation of the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency Act 2024 (Act 860) in Sabah must not erode the state's autonomous immigration powers.

Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the Act falls under the federal government's jurisdiction.

However, he said the state government maintains that Sabah's immigration powers, as enshrined under Article V of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), are non-negotiable, as the formation of Malaysia was subject to the preservation of Sabah's and Sarawak's immigration authority.

"Accordingly, the Sabah government has formally conveyed its position to the Prime Minister, insisting that the Sabah Immigration Department remain the agency responsible for controlling all entry points into the state and that the authority to issue Not-To-Land (NTL) notices remain under the department's jurisdiction.

"The state government also emphasised that the constitutional safeguards protecting Sabah's position must always be preserved and that there should be no erosion of the state's special rights and autonomous immigration powers."

Joniston was replying to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko-Tamparuli) on the reasons for the state government's delay in implementing the Act.

Meanwhile, assistant public works and utilities minister Datuk Seri Ruddy Awah said there were 17 cable theft cases in Kota Kinabalu and Karambunai between last year and June this year.

"Sabah Electricity views cable theft seriously as it not only causes financial losses but may also affect the reliability of electricity supply to consumers.

"In this regard, Sabah Electricity has strengthened preventive measures through regular patrols and monitoring in areas identified as high-risk locations, including conducting integrated operations with enforcement agencies," he said in reply to Datuk Aliakbar Gulasan (PAS-Karambunai), who asked about cable theft cases in his constituency.

Ruddy said 35 patrol and monitoring operations were carried out in the Karambunai constituency between January and June this year as a proactive measure to reduce cable theft incidents and strengthen enforcement efforts.