KUCHING: The restoration of appropriate parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak is a constitutional responsibility in line with the aspirations of Malaysia's formation, says a Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department.
Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (pic) welcomed the continuation of constructive dialogue on the proposal to increase parliamentary seats for the Borneo states but added that this was not just a matter of political negotiation.
"It is a constitutional obligation, firmly rooted in the principles and commitments enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and must be approached with due respect and mutual understanding," she said in a statement on Tuesday (April 15).
She was responding to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's remarks that the proposal to increase Sabah and Sarawak's parliamentary seats remained under discussion, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof's view that legal interpretations of MA63 should be resolved amicably.
MA63 is a legal document spelling out the terms of the formation of Malaysia by the Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, signed in London on July 9, 1963.
Sharifah Hasidah said that during Malaysia's formation, the Borneo states were allocated 40 seats - 24 to Sarawak and 16 to Sabah - to ensure their meaningful representation and constitutional safeguards.
The addition of the 40 seats, she said, meant that constitutional amendments could not proceed without the full support of the Bornean representatives.
"This principle of constitutional protection was further enshrined in Clause 66 of the Malaysia Bill, which is appended as Annex A to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and subsequently incorporated into Article 161E of the Federal Constitution.
"It explicitly safeguarded the number of seats allocated to Sarawak and Sabah, thereby ensuring that constitutional amendments which could affect these states would require their consent," she said.
Sharifah Hasidah noted that over time, however, Peninsular Malaysia's number of seats expanded disproportionately even as Sabah and Sarawak gained additional seats, eroding the original balance and diminishing the established constitutional safeguards.
She said such an imbalance undermined the spirit of equal partnership envisioned in MA63.
"Honouring the spirit and intent of MA63 goes beyond numerical representation. It is about justice, mutual respect, and preserving the integrity of our constitutional foundation.
"Ensuring fair and equitable parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak is vital to maintaining unity, trust and shared future of our nation," she added.
