Premier: Additional parliamentary seats must preserve Sabah-Sarawak one-third ratio

Abang Johari speaking to reporters after officiating the Sarawak Semiconductor Flagship Talent Development Ecosystem ceremony at Centexs Santubong on Sept 15, 2026.

By Karen Bong

KUCHING, Sept 15: Sarawak has maintained that the long-standing principle of one-third representation for Sabah and Sarawak in Parliament must be upheld should the federal government proceed with any increase in the number of parliamentary seats.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the principle was rooted in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the Cobbold Commission and the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report.

“The rationale under the IGC was based on proportionate representation, with Sabah and Sarawak collectively entitled to one-third of parliamentary seats to safeguard the interests (of our two territories).

“We would like to thank Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) because he understands the ratio that was agreed upon under MA63, which was based on the Cobbold Commission and the IGC,” he told reporters after officiating the Sarawak Semiconductor Flagship Talent Development Ecosystem ceremony at Centexs Santubong today.

Abang Johari said any increase in parliamentary seats must take into account the agreed ratio.

“If there are 100 seats, one-third is 33. If there are 200 seats, then Sabah and Sarawak together should have 66 seats. That is the principle we are holding on to,” he said.

He noted that before Singapore’s separation from Malaysia, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak collectively held one-third of parliamentary representation, a mechanism intended to protect their interests within the federation.

According to him, following Singapore’s exit, the seats were effectively absorbed by Peninsular Malaysia instead of being redistributed between Sabah and Sarawak, resulting in a reduction of the Borneo states’ proportional representation.

“Now that the Prime Minister has agreed to increase parliamentary seats, we are holding firmly to that ratio,” he said.

Asked how many additional seats Sabah and Sarawak would require, Abang Johari said the number would depend on the final size of Parliament.

“We will see how many seats are needed. If additional seats are created, Sabah and Sarawak must receive their share according to the one-third ratio,” he said.

On the issue of electoral boundary redelineation, he said Sarawak’s priority was ensuring that the one-third representation principle was respected, while the technical exercise should be left to the Election Commission (EC).

“The important thing is that we have agreed on the ratio. The rest, we leave to EC to carry out its due diligence,” he added.

On Sept 12, Anwar announced that the federal government has agreed in principle to increase the ratio of parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak in line with the spirit of the MA63.

He said the matter was agreed upon by the Cabinet and that the EC had been informed to begin the relevant process and consultations. — DayakDaily