Sabah, Sarawak’s one-third seat demand non-negotiable, say don, activist

The Dewan Rakyat presently comprises 222 members, with Sabah and Sarawak allocated 25 and 31 seats, respectively, for a combined 25.2% share of voting power. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A political observer and an activist have dismissed the need for Sabah and Sarawak to draw up an alternative plan in case Putrajaya snubs their collective demand for one-third representation in Parliament.

Political analyst James Chin of the University of Tasmania and Saya Anak Sarawak founder Peter John Jaban said there was no need for a “Plan B” as the demand is non-negotiable.

James Chin.

They said Sabah and Sarawak’s push is about correcting a historical wrong following Singapore’s exit from the federation in 1965.

When Malaysia was formed in 1963, Malaya was allocated 105 of the 160 seats in the Dewan Rakyat (representing 65% of the voting power in the House), with Sarawak holding 24 seats, Sabah, 16, and Singapore, 15.

This denied Malaya the two-third majority required to amend the Federal Constitution.

At its departure, Singapore’s 15 seats were not redistributed to Sabah and Sarawak, causing the two East Malaysian states to lose their veto power.

“We’re not negotiating for something but asking or demanding for something to be given back,” Peter told FMT.

Peter John Jaban.

Chin likened the push to a previous constitutional amendment effected in December 2021 which saw Sabah and Sarawak restored as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia in the federation.

A professor of Asian studies, Chin said that amendment was first tabled in the Dewan Rakyat by the Pakatan Harapan government in 2019, but was defeated after it failed to secure the required two-thirds’ majority support.

The Dewan Rakyat presently comprises 222 members, with Sabah and Sarawak allocated 25 and 31 seats, respectively, for a combined 25.2% share of voting power.

The lower house’s present makeup allows 148 of the 166 MPs from West Malaysia to push through constitutional amendments.

Inevitable 

Chin said it was inevitable that the Bornean states would have their one-third share of seats restored. He said the demand was endorsed by the government’s Special Council on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 two years ago.

So, there is no reason to expect resistance to the plan, he said.

“There may be delays, but (the government) just needs to find a roadmap.”

Last week, Parti Solidariti Tanahairku (Star) deputy president Kenny Chua suggested that Sabah and Sarawak draw up a “Plan B” as they cannot assume Putrajaya will hand over one-third of the decision-making power in the Dewan Rakyat to East Malaysia.

Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof had said last year that it may take between two and three years for the seats to be allocated. Fadillah, a Gabungan Parti Sarawak vice-president, said the matter was still at the discussion stage.

Last week, Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor said several matters connected to the demand would need to be discussed with Putrajaya first, including constituency sizes and the number of voters in each area.

Malay political establishment’s aversion 

Chin said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stands to benefit from fulfilling the demand during his tenure, as it would likely secure him the continued backing of the ruling coalitions in Sabah and Sarawak at the next general election.

However, he said Anwar faces a massive challenge in getting the buy-in of the Malay political establishment in West Malaysia.

“They are not supportive as they do not think Sabah and Sarawak should get one-third of the seats (in the Dewan Rakyat).”