Restoring the spirit of MA63 through fair representation

The announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim following the MA63 Implementation Action Council Meeting in Kota Kinabalu on September 11, 2026 represented a potentially significant milestone in Malaysia’s constitutional development.

The Federal Cabinet’s agreement in principle to enhance parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak is not merely about increasing the number of seats in the Dewan Rakyat. More importantly, it reflected a renewed commitment to the foundational principles upon which Malaysia was established and reaffirms the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners within the Federation.

What distinguished this proposal is the Prime Minister’s emphasis on increasing the proportion of parliamentary representation held by Sabah and Sarawak.  Increasing the number of seats without correcting the existing imbalance would do little to address longstanding concerns that the constitutional safeguards envisaged during the formation of Malaysia have gradually diminished. By focusing on proportional representation, the government signals its intention to uphold the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

The importance of the current proposal becomes evident when viewed against the original constitutional arrangement at the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

While Sabah and Sarawak today collectively account for only 56 of the 222 Dewan Rakyat seats, or about 25.2% of Parliament, the original framework under Article 9(2) of MA63 provided a significantly stronger position. Malaya was allocated 104 seats, Sarawak 24, North Borneo (now Sabah) 16, and Singapore 15. As a result, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore collectively held 34.6% of parliamentary seats, creating a constitutional safeguard designed to preserve the balance of power and partnership within the Federation.

The late Zainnal Ajamain, a passionate activist for Sabah and Sarawak rights in accordance to the Malaysia Agreement 1963, frequently argued that Singapore’s departure from Malaysia in 1965 altered this balance. As Singapore’s seats were not redistributed in a manner that preserved the original proportion, the constitutional protection envisioned during the formation of Malaysia was gradually weakened.

Lord Cobbold, in the Cobbold Commission Report, stated that “Malaysia should be regarded by all concerned as an association of partners united in a common interest while retaining their own individualities.  If any idea were to take root that Malaysia world involve a ‘take over’ of the Borneo territories by the Federation of Malaya and the submersion of the individualities of North Borneo and Sarawak, Malaysia would not in my judgement, be generally acceptable or successful.”

 Similarly, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Founding Father of Malaysia, emphasised the principle of equality when he declared: “When the Borneo territories become part of Malaysia, they will cease to be a colony of Britain, and they will not be a colony of Malaya, I thought I had made it clear, they will be partisan of equal status.”   This statement, recorded in the Parliamentary Hansard on  April 28, 1962, Volume IV, remains a powerful reminder of the understanding upon which Malaysia was formed.

Against this backdrop, many have argued that Sabah and Sarawak should collectively hold at least 34.6% of parliamentary representation, reflecting the balance originally envisaged at the formation of Malaysia. Such a structure will not only restore an important constitutional safeguard but also ensures that major constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds majority cannot be passed without substantial support from the Borneo states.

Enhanced representation would strengthen Sabah and Sarawak’s role in national decision-making and reinforce their position as key stakeholders in the Federation.

With roughly one-third of parliamentary seats, the two states would become indispensable partners in the formation of future federal governments. National leaders would be compelled to engage more meaningfully with their aspirations and concerns, recognising their importance to Malaysia’s political and economic future.

For the people of Sabah and Sarawak, however, the issue is about more than political influence. It is fundamentally about fairness, recognition and the preservation of constitutional rights.

Greater representation would provide a stronger platform to advance priorities such as infrastructure development, healthcare, education, rural connectivity, revenue sharing, fiscal arrangements and the full implementation of MA63.

Parliamentary representation should therefore be viewed not as an end in itself, but as a mechanism to ensure that the voices and interests of the people are adequately reflected in national policymaking.

Significantly, the representation proposal has been accompanied by tangible financial commitments. The Prime Minister announced an interim allocation increase of RM1.5 billion for Sabah and indicated that Sarawak, although not covered under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, should receive similar consideration based on the same spirit of fairness. Discussions are expected to continue with the Premier of Sarawak on interim measures and a funding formula that reflects the nation’s fiscal capacity and developmental needs.

While the proposal is promising, its implementation will require constitutional amendments, stakeholder consultations and careful seat distribution. Equally important is unity between Sabah and Sarawak leaders. Greater representation will only be meaningful if both states work together to advance MA63, fiscal rights, natural resource interests and constitutional reforms.

Many of us felt that the increase in parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak is more than a numerical adjustment. It is an opportunity to restore the spirit of partnership that underpinned the formation of Malaysia. If implemented thoughtfully and supported by genuine political commitment, it can strengthen constitutional safeguards, enhance the voice of the Borneo States and move Malaysia closer to its original vision of a Federation built on equality, mutual respect and shared responsibility.

The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at [email protected].