Premier: One-third seat call for Sarawak, Sabah to safeguard parliamentary representation, MA63

KUCHING (Oct 28): The call for Sarawak and Sabah to have one-third of seats in Parliament is to safeguard their parliamentary representation in order to uphold the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 (MA63), said Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“Recently, we talked about the matter of 35 per cent parliamentary representation, because in the Cobbold Commission report it is said, the word is ‘safeguard’ – safeguard all the culture, religion, language,” he said in a video footage of his speech delivered during a recent official visit by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Kapit.

“What is important is to safeguard representation in Parliament. Because previously, we had Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak (providing) more than one-third (representation in Parliament). That is why, Prime Minister, we ask again. Give us the one-third because those in Singapore were taken by that side (Malaya), so share it with Sabah and Sarawak.”

He reiterated that the matter aligns with the Cobbold Commission report.

“… in parliamentary democracy you can amend any part of your constitution as long as you get two-thirds.

“What we fear is that the Malaysia Agreement could get cancelled. Who knows? So if we have one-third we know that the basic fundamental agreement is intact, so we can continue to develop,” he said.