KUCHING: Kua Jack Seng, political secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, has criticised DAP Sarawak state assemblywoman, Violet Yong Wui Wui, over her recent remarks on the increase of parliamentary seats, describing her statement as “misleading” and “dangerously simplistic”.
In a press statement issued on Friday, Kua said Yong’s claim, that increasing parliamentary seats only requires a constitutional amendment and has nothing to do with Sarawak state seats, reflects a poor understanding of Malaysia’s federal structure and the foundational principles of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Yong Wui Wui should know better. Malaysia is not just governed by technical procedures but by constitutional safeguards established through MA63,” said Kua.
He stressed that the agreement clearly envisioned that the Borneo states, Sarawak and Sabah, should collectively hold one-third of all parliamentary seats.
“This was never meant to be a population game. It was a deliberate political safeguard to ensure Sarawak and Sabah would have a strong voice and act as a constitutional check on any unilateral dominance by Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
Kua further warned that any amendment to Article 46 of the Federal Constitution, which governs the number and distribution of parliamentary seats, must not be treated as a routine administrative change.
“Every added seat shifts the power dynamics in Parliament. Without restoring the original one-third ratio for Sarawak and Sabah, our voice in national policymaking becomes weaker and more diluted,” he argued.
He also pointed out that parliamentary seat allocation should not be viewed in isolation from state-level representation, saying both are part of an ecosystem that balances regional and federal interests.
“Any increase in parliamentary seats must be holistic and guided by constitutional principles, not political expediency,” he said.
He said Sarawak deserves leaders who defend its rights, not echo narratives from Malaya without consideration of the state’s position as a founding partner in the federation.
“Yong Wui Wui should stop misleading the public. Sarawak is not a passenger in Malaysia. We are a founding partner, and that must be recognised in every federal decision,” he stressed further.
Kua, who is also the chairman of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Engkilili Branch, concluded by urging all Sarawakian leaders to uphold the state’s constitutional rights and ensure that the spirit of MA63 is respected in any federal reform.
