Bill needed to restore Sabah, Sarawak parliamentary seat ratio, says NGO

MIRI (March 8): Persatuan Intelektual Pribumi Sarawak (Perantis) has called on the federal government to table a Bill to increase the number of parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Its advisor Wellie Henry Majang said the move is necessary to restore the one-third proportion of parliamentary seats that had been agreed upon during the formation of Malaysia.

He noted that the gazettement of the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2022, which came into force on Feb 11, 2022, marked a historic milestone as it formally recognised MA63 in the Federal Constitution.

However, he stressed that such recognition would have little meaning if it is not followed by concrete legislative action.

“This recognition cannot be merely symbolic.

“Sabah and Sarawak’s position as equal partners must be reflected through the structure of power in Parliament, particularly by restoring the one-third seat ratio,” he said in a statement.

Wellie said at least 29 additional parliamentary seats are required for Sabah and Sarawak to restore the balance of representation as agreed before Singapore left Malaysia.

He warned that failing to restore the constitutional balance could undermine the original spirit of the federation, especially in matters involving constitutional amendments that require a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

He added that the recognition of Sabah and Sarawak as regions in the Federal Constitution must also be accompanied by fairer power distribution and balanced development allocations between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

Wellie also referred to the royal address by Sultan Ibrahim during the opening of the first meeting of the fifth term of the 15th Parliament, which highlighted that Malaysia’s formation was founded on MA63.

“The increase in parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak is not political rhetoric but an urgent necessity to restore rights that have long been eroded,” he said.

He added that Malaysia would not exist without Sabah and Sarawak, and therefore, the rights agreed under MA63 must be restored.