Salleh said this was a measured and necessary step that reinforced the priority of preserving the state’s immigration authority, as provided for under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Concerns over the AKPS framework are valid, particularly if its implementation does not clearly recognise Sabah’s direct control. Any ambiguity risks weakening long-established state powers in immigration matters.
“Sabah’s immigration authority is not merely administrative. It is a constitutional safeguard and a fundamental condition in the formation of Malaysia. This principle must remain non-negotiable.
“The deferment creates essential space for further review and clarification. It allows all parties to ensure that any future implementation aligns fully with Sabah’s constitutional position and special rights,” the Sabah Umno treasurer said in a Facebook post.
Salleh urged chief minister Hajiji Noor’s administration to hold constructive talks with Putrajaya to ensure policy coordination and the protection of Sabah’s autonomy.
He said it is critical to strike this balance of maintaining stable and functional ties with Putrajaya while guarding Sabah’s legal rights and keeping the confidence of Sabahans.
Earlier, Hajiji said the state Cabinet identified a potential erosion of Sabah’s constitutional autonomous powers and special immigration rights arising from the legal and operational framework of AKPS’s enforcement.
He said AKPS is intended to assume the role currently carried out by the Sabah immigration department at entry points into the state.
Under the proposed structure, the state would not have direct control over AKPS but only exercise indirect oversight through the Sabah immigration director, he added.
AKPS is a federal enforcement agency established to centralise border control functions previously handled by multiple agencies at land, sea, and air entry points.
Its main responsibilities include immigration control, customs coordination, security screening, and enforcing laws governing the movement of people and goods across borders.