KUCHING: The restoration of Sabah and Sarawak’s rightful share of parliamentary seats is a constitutional responsibility grounded in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, asserted this in response to recent remarks by Deputy Prime Ministers, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, on the ongoing discussions to increase the number of parliamentary seats for the Borneo states.
“While we welcome the continuation of constructive dialogue on this important issue, it is essential to recognise that parliamentary representation is not merely a matter of political negotiation.
“It is a constitutional obligation, firmly rooted in the principles and commitments enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and must be approached with due respect and mutual understanding,” she said.
She highlighted that during Malaysia’s formation, then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman had proposed allocating 40 parliamentary seats to the Borneo Territories, 24 to Sarawak and 16 to Sabah, to ensure they could act as a constitutional safeguard.
“This allocation was seen as a crucial concession, intended to ensure meaningful representation and constitutional safeguards for the Bornean states within the Federation,” she noted.
Hasidah also referenced Paragraph 19(2) of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report, which she said “explicitly stated that the proportion of seats allocated to Sarawak and North Borneo must not be reduced”.
She stressed that the structure of parliamentary representation during Malaysia’s formation was deliberately designed to prevent Malaya from holding a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
“Collectively, Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore were allocated 35 per cent of the seats in the House of Representatives.
“This structure was deliberate, intended to prevent Malaya from holding a two-thirds majority and thereby averting unilateral amendments to the Federal Constitution,” she said.
“This principle of constitutional protection was further enshrined in Clause 66 of the Malaysia Bill.
“And subsequently incorporated into Article 161E of the Federal Constitution,” she added, pointing out that it safeguarded the number of seats allocated to the Borneo Territories.
However, over time, this balance has been distorted.
“While Sabah and Sarawak gained additional parliamentary seats, the number of seats for Malaya expanded disproportionately.
“This has eroded the original balance and diminished the constitutional safeguards that were initially established,” she said.
She argued that restoring the Bornean states’ parliamentary weight is not a matter of favour or convenience, but one of fulfilling the Federation’s founding framework.
“It is therefore imperative to recognise that restoring the appropriate proportion of parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak is not merely a political aspiration but a constitutional responsibility.”
Hasidah further emphasised the broader importance of respecting the spirit of MA63.
“Honouring the spirit and intent of MA63 goes beyond numerical representation.
“It is about justice, mutual respect, and preserving the integrity of our constitutional foundation.
“Ensuring fair and equitable parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak is vital to maintaining unity, trust, and the shared future of our nation,” she emphasised.
