Leaders of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should be prepared for a full renegotiation of the federal set-up for Malaysia so that Sabah and Sarawak can gain more autonomy.

They said this in response to Zahid's call to push for the amendment of the Federal Constitution to strengthen syariah law at the Umno general assembly yesterday.

"We wish to reiterate that not only was the Federation of Malaya established as a secular federation where Islam as the 'religion of the federation' plays only ceremonial roles, but more importantly, Sabah and Sarawak...