KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg expressed his concern that a lack of awareness among newer generations and some policymakers about Sarawak’s constitutional rights could place the safeguards under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) at risk.
Speaking during a dialogue session at the townhall held in conjunction with the ninth anniversary of the state administration at Hikmah Exchange on Tuesday (Jan 13), he said many Malaysians, including those in Kuala Lumpur, were unfamiliar with the historical and legal foundations that define Sarawak’s position within the federation.
“The new generation of Malaysians may not know the history behind it. Who knows, in the future some may question why Sarawak and Sabah have these special rights, and then move to amend the Constitution and strip them away,” he said.
He stressed that the call by Sarawak and Sabah to restore one-third representation in the Dewan Rakyat was not politically motivated, but aimed at safeguarding rights agreed upon during the formation of Malaysia.
“We are saying that Sabah and Sarawak want to safeguard what was agreed. It is not that Sarawak is saying, ‘I want this’. What we want is fairness,” he said.
Abang Johari explained that when Malaysia was formed, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore together held more than one-third of parliamentary seats, a structure intended to prevent unilateral constitutional amendments that require a two-thirds majority.
However, after Singapore left the federation in 1965, its seats were absorbed by Peninsular Malaysia instead of being redistributed to Sabah and Sarawak.
He also highlighted Sarawak’s autonomy over land matters, noting that this was another area frequently misunderstood at the federal level.
“There is a national land code, and there are separate land codes for Sabah and Sarawak. We are not subject to the national land code. This is Sarawak land,” he said.
Emphasising the legal standing of MA63, Abang Johari said the agreement is registered with the United Nations, giving it international recognition.
“Our agreement, MA63, is registered with the United Nations. This is an international document,” he said, adding that Malaysia Day is observed on Sept 16 because the formation of Malaysia had to undergo a United Nations review following objections from neighbouring countries.
Addressing arguments that parliamentary representation should be based purely on population size, he said such an approach would undermine democratic fairness.
“You cannot base it solely on population. In the Westminster system, there are constituencies with small populations, yet they still have representation. You must be fair,” he said.
He reiterated that protecting Sarawak’s constitutional position was essential to ensuring a strong and united Malaysia, saying the country would remain strong if its founding agreements were properly understood and respected.
