Why Does Sabah Want Independence?
Sabah seeks independence because its inclusion in Malaysia was not based on the free, informed, and genuine consent of its people; because the terms on which it joined Malaysia were systematically broken; because its enormous natural wealth has been extracted for others' benefit while its people remain poor; and because its indigenous communities have been marginalised, displaced, and demographically overwhelmed by state policy.
Is Sabah's Independence Legal?
Yes. Under international law, the right to self-determination is a fundamental and inalienable right of all peoples. Sabah's right to self-determination was never properly exercised in 1963. The Malaysia Agreement is arguably void ab initio. And even if it were valid, the systematic breach of its terms and the decades of exploitation that followed would give rise to a right of remedial secession under contemporary international law.
What Does the RSNB-GIE Want?
The RSNB-GIE seeks an internationally supervised referendum in which the people of Sabah can freely express their wishes regarding their political future. We want the right to self-determination to be genuinely exercised — whether the outcome is full independence, free association, or some other arrangement determined by the Sabahan people themselves.
How Is This Different from Terrorism?
The RSNB-GIE's advocacy is entirely peaceful, democratic, and lawful. We operate through international legal mechanisms, democratic processes, and public advocacy — not through violence or intimidation. Self-determination is a human right recognised by the United Nations. Advocating for it is not terrorism; it is the exercise of a fundamental freedom.