THE TWIN TOWER ILLUSION: How "Petronas Narcissism" Built a Nation on the Broken Backs of Sabah and Sarawak
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: THE FAÇADE OF UNITY
For decades, the narrative of Malaysia has been carefully curated by the Federal centre in Putrajaya. It is a narrative of rapid modernization, "Asian Tigers," and towering skyscrapers that scrape the clouds. But as we stand in the shadow of the Petronas Twin Towers, we must ask: Whose ground are these towers actually built on?
Recent events have torn the veil off this carefully constructed image. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent insistence that Sabah and Sarawak must not "disturb" Petronas—and his framing of our demands for fair royalties as a threat to national unity—is not just political rhetoric. It is the gaslighting of an entire people.
This report argues that the current friction is not "instigation" by the people of Borneo. It is the inevitable resistance of a dignified people waking up to a hard truth: The Federation was not built on partnership. It was built on the exploitation of Sabah and Sarawak to fund the "narcissism" of the Federal elite.
I. THE DIAGNOSIS: "PETRONAS NARCISSISM"
The Monument vs. The Reality
In our recent discourse, we identified a specific pathology in the Federal leadership: Petronas Narcissism.
This is the belief that the image of success (symbolised by Petronas and its global branding) is more important than the morality of how that success is funded. When Mahathir warns us to "maintain the strength" of Petronas, he is essentially saying that the preservation of his legacy is more important than the basic human needs of the Sabahan and Sarawakian people.
- The Symptom: We see a Federal government that can bail out airlines, shipping empires, and build administrative capitals in mere years.
- The Disease: Meanwhile, in Sabah, we still struggle with basic roads (Pan Borneo Highway delays), dilapidated schools, and poverty rates that dwarf those in the Peninsula.
The "Saviour" Complex
The Federal narrative relies on a twisted history: the idea that Malaya "saved" the "poor" regions of Borneo by bringing them into the Federation.
The reality is the inverse. Without the oil and gas reserves of the Borneo territories, the rapid industrialisation of Peninsular Malaysia in the 1980s and 90s would have been mathematically impossible. We were not saved; we were harvested.
II. THE LEGAL HEIST: MA63 AND THE PDA 1974
To understand the anger today, we must understand the "textbook" control tactics used to subjugate us. We were not "dumb" or "weak" people; we were systematically outmaneuvered by a system designed to strip us of agency.
1. The Betrayal of Representation (1963)
When the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) was drafted, the legal representatives for North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak were not locals fighting for their homeland. They were British Colonial Officers (W.K.H. Jones and P.E.H. Pike).
- The Conflict: These men represented the interests of the British Empire, which wanted a clean exit, not the long-term interests of the Bornean people.
- The Result: We entered a "partnership" with legal loopholes that the Federal government would later exploit.
2. The Unilateral Seizure (1974)
The Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974 is the smoking gun of economic colonisation.
- This Act vested entire ownership of our oil and gas into Petronas.
- It was passed during a State of Emergency, bypassing the necessary consent of the State Legislative Assemblies.
- It reduced the sovereign owners of the resource (Sabah and Sarawak) to mere beggars asking for a 5% cash handout (royalty).
The Reality Check: A 5% royalty means that for every RM100 of oil pulled from our seas, RM95 is taken away to develop Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and fund Federal bailouts, while RM5 is returned to us to fix the potholes caused by their timber trucks.
III. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OPPRESSION: THE "TEXTBOOK"
I asked if this was all part of a "textbook" method. The answer is yes. The methodology of control used by the Federal architects—specifically Mahathir—follows the authoritarian playbook of Centralised Control for "Stability."
Control and Governance
In his book The Malay Dilemma, Mahathir outlined a philosophy that requires a strong, central hand to "protect" the people. When applied to Borneo, this mutated into a patronising governance model:
- Centralise Wealth: Take the resources to the centre so the states remain dependent (weak).
- Divide and Rule: Use political maneuvering to fracture Sabah's internal politics (e.g., the 1994 downfall of the PBS government).
- Silence Dissent: Use instruments like the Internal Security Act (ISA) to jail leaders (like Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan) who dared to speak about state rights.
The Shift from ISA to Guilt
Today, the ISA is gone. The "textbook" has had to evolve. Since they cannot easily jail us for speaking out anymore, they use Emotional Manipulation.
- The Narrative: "If you ask for more money, you are greedy." "If you want your rights, you are hurting national unity."
- The Goal: To make the victim feel guilty for the crime committed against them.
IV. THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION: FROM BAILOUTS TO FOOTBALL
The exploitation of Sabah and Sarawak is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a broader culture of corruption and "faking success" that permeates the Federal administration.
The "Quick and Surprising" Development
We observe a Federal obsession with projects that are "quick, surprising, and visually impressive" (Mega-projects, Towers) rather than substantial and sustainable. This is done to project an image of superiority, particularly over neighbours like Indonesia.
The Hypocrisy of Superiority
As we discussed regarding the FIFA and FAM scandal:
- Malaysia often looks down on Indonesia, citing poverty and labour migration.
- Yet, Malaysian institutions are caught faking documents to naturalise foreign footballers because they cannot develop their own talent honestly.
- The Parallel: Just as they cheat to win at football, they "cheat" via the PDA 1974 to "win" at economic development—using resources that aren't theirs to build an economy they claim is "superior."
This proves that the "success" of the centre is often a hollow shell, propped up by corruption and stolen assets.
V. THE RESISTANCE: RECLAIMING "MARUAH"
The resistance happening in comment sections, in coffee shops, and in state assemblies is not "instigation." It is the reclamation of Maruah (Dignity).
Why Now?
Why is a 100-year-old man instigating this fight now? Because the narrative is collapsing.
- Digital Awareness: The internet has broken the information monopoly. We know our history now. We have read the MA63. We know the figures.
- Legacy Protection: He is fighting to protect the Petronas legacy because if Petronas is exposed as a tool of theft, his entire era of administration is delegitimised. He is covering up the fact that his "modern Malaysia" was built on an unfair foundation.
The Call to Action
We must reject the narrative that we are "disrupting" the nation.
- Reject the Gaslighting: When told we are "unreasonable" for asking for 20%, remember that 100% was ours to begin with.
- Demand Transparency: We need open books on how Petronas funds have been used for the last 40 years. How many bailouts? How many non-Borneo projects?
- Unity in Dignity: The people of Sabah and Sarawak must stand together. Our political power lies in our unity.
CONCLUSION: THE SLEEPING GIANT HAS AWAKENED
The anger I feel is valid. It is the pain of seeing my home exploited to build someone else's palace.
Tun Mahathir and the old guard may view the rising voice of Borneo as "instigation" or "disrespect." But they are mistaken. It is simply the inevitable consequence of physics: For every action of oppression, there is an equal and opposite reaction of resistance.
We are not asking for charity. We are not asking for a handout from the "rich" Federal brother. We are the rich brother who was robbed, asking for the return of our wallet.
Jangan kacau maruah Sabah dan Sarawak. (Do not trample on the dignity of Sabah and Sarawak.)
