KUCHING: The formal recognition of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in Malaysia through recent constitutional amendments represents a significant step in fulfilling the promises of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Sarawak Indigenous Intellectuals Association (PERANTIS) advisor Wellie Henry Majang said the amendments clarify the position of the two states within the federation and give legal recognition to MA63, which had previously not been explicitly referenced in the Federal Constitution.
“Sept 16, 1963 was a historic day when communities from Peninsular Malaya united with the peoples of Sabah and Sarawak, including the Kadazandusun, Iban, Bidayuh, Bajau, Murut, Orang Ulu and Melanau, to form Malaysia.
“One of the key conditions for Sabah and Sarawak joining Malaysia was the guarantee of the special rights of Indigenous peoples as enshrined in Article 153(1) of the Federal Constitution,” Majang said in a statement today (Dec 6).
He highlighted that the constitutional amendments, which include changes to Clauses 2 of Article 1, 160(2) and 161A(6) and (7), came into force on Feb 11, 2022, with the consent of the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
“These changes allow the federal government to formally refer to all promises and agreements ratified during the formation of Malaysia in 1963 as detailed in the Inter-Governmental Committee report and the Cobbold Commission findings,” he said.
Majang also emphasised the importance of increasing parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak, describing it as crucial to restoring the two states as equal partners in the federation.
He called for at least 29 additional parliamentary seats, noting that without a sufficient one-third seat ratio, constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds majority could be passed without considering the interests of the two states.
“Sabah and Sarawak are no longer merely observers. The Gabungan Parti Sarawak government has become the kingmaker for Malaysia’s political stability,” he added.
PERANTIS urged that the proposed bill to increase parliamentary seats be prioritised for debate in the Dewan Rakyat, expected to convene in 2026, to ensure fair representation and protect the constitutional safeguards of Sabah and Sarawak.
“MA63 is the agreement that led to the birth of Malaysia. Without Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia as we know it would not exist,” Majang said.
