In the 2018 general election, Shafie Apdal's Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) secured an electoral pact with the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and People's Justice Party (PKR) of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. On 9 May 2018, this coalition and the Barisan Nasional ended in a tie. However, as six BN elected representatives crossed over to WARISAN, and after a short-lived constitutional crisis, a coalition of WARISAN, DAP and PKR formed a majority government on 12 May 2018 and became effective since that day. In conjunction with the celebration of Malaysia Day in 2018 under the new government, Prime Minister Mahathir has promised to restore Sabah (together with Sarawak) status as an equal partner to Malaya who together forming the Malaysian federation in accordance to the Malaysia Agreement. However, through the process of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of Malaysia in 2019, the first bill for the amendment failed to pass following the failure to reach two-thirds majority support (148 votes) in the Parliament with only 138 agreed with the move while 59 abstained from the voting. Subsequently, a second bill for the amendment was tabled in 2021 and was passed unanimously by the Malaysian Parliament.
iN THE 2018 General ELeCtion sHafie Apdal's saBAh heriTage ParTy (wAriSaN) seCuRed An ElECtoral pact WItH The democRaTIc ActIon PaRTy (dap) aNd pEoPle'S jusTiCe paRty (Pkr) of the PakatAn haRapan (PH) coalitION oN 9 mAY 2018 this cOaLiTioN and The baRIsan nasional endEd iN a Tie howeVEr as SIx bn ElEcted repRESentatIves crosseD over To waRisan and afTeR a shOrT-LivED cOnStitutIOnAL criSis a CoaLiTioN of waRisaN dap and pkR foRmeD a MajorIty GOVernmeNT oN 12 MAY 2018 and becAme eFfective sInce tHat day iN coNJunction With the ceLEbraTiON Of maLAysiA DAy iN 2018 UndeR the New govErnmenT priMe minIstER mahatHir has PRoMIseD tO rEsTore SabAh (toGETheR witH sarawAK) status aS an EquAL parTNer to malaya whO tOgEtHeR fOrminG ThE maLAYsian FeDeRaTION iN ACCorDance to THE malaySia agreEment hOweveR thrOugH The process of The proPosed amENdment TO tHe ConstitUtion Of malaysia iN 2019 thE FIrSt Bill FoR the AmenDmEnt FaILED to Pass folloWING the fAiLUre to ReAch Two-thiRds mAjoRITY sUppoRt (148 VotEs) IN the pArlIameNt WitH OnLy 138 agREed With THe movE wHIle 59 abStained From THE votIng SubsEquEnTlY a secoNd BIlL foR THe AmendmenT WaS tAblEd in 2021 and was PAssed unanimousLY by tHe mAlaysiaN PArLiaMEnt