Tun Jugah played a fundamental role in bringing the state of
Sarawak into the formation of the Federation of
Malaysia which materialized on 16 September 1963. He was the key signatory along with two others on behalf of Sarawak of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 in London. Sarawak had been made a British colony after the way and was granted self-government on 22 July 1963. Thus, Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'kub said that Tun Jugah was "the bridge to Malaysia," i.e. without his signature, there wouldn't be any Malaysia today. However, his candidacy as the first Sarawak Governor was rejected by Tunku Abdul Rahman on the basis that the posts of the Sarawak Chief Minister and the Sarawak Governor cannot be both held by Iban persons at the same time. He was illiterate in terms of Western education, like so many other Ibans during his time. He signed documents by stamping his thumb print. However, he managed to become a state leader, i.e. the first Sarawakian and then was appointed the Federal Minister in charge of Sarawak Affairs in the
Cabinet of Malaysia. He was elected a member of Parliament during Malaysia's first elections in 1963. His famous quote was "Anang aja Malaysia tu baka Tebu, Manis di pun, tabar Di ujung" (Let's hope that Malaysia will not end up as a sugarcane, sweet in the beginning, but turned less sweet in the end). ==Honours==