Challenge: Independent Sarawak & Sabah

What could cause Sarawak and Sabah to not be a part of Malaysia in the present day? Leaving the Malaysian Federation or not joining it at all in 1963 is one option, as is having a different colonial relationship with the UK- perhaps more white settlers (very unlikely though) or being important enough or dependent enough to not want independence in the 1960s (slightly more likely).

If they did not join the Malaysian Federation what would these two states look like? Would they be one state or two, maybe joining Brunei or even Singapore?
 
If they did not join the Malaysian Federation what would these two states look like? Would they be one state or two, maybe joining Brunei or even Singapore?

As to join Brunei, that'd be perfectly possible if it'd still be unlikely for Sabah, but for joining Singapore would be just randomness of an ASB.

If you want both states to be united, than as Pervez said, have Indonesia won the Konfrontasi. But for keeping both states independent while separated, I don't know what should be done about Sabah though.....
 
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