Sarawak minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says there is no basis for further negotiation over the principle of maintaining one-third parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak.
He said the principle was rooted in the constitutional arrangements made during the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
Representation rooted in 1963 arrangements
“When we formed Malaysia in 1963, two-thirds of the seats were allocated to Malaya and one-third to Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak,” he was quoted as saying by the Borneo Post in Kuching today.
Under the 1963 arrangement, the 159-member Dewan Rakyat comprised 104 seats for Malaya, 16 for Sabah, 24 for Sarawak and 15 for Singapore.
Together, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore held 55 seats, or just over one-third of the House. Abdul Karim said this reflected the arrangement agreed upon by those involved in the formation of Malaysia.
He said the disparity in parliamentary representation emerged after Singapore left Malaysia in 1965 and its 15 parliamentary seats were abolished, leaving Sabah and Sarawak with a smaller proportion of the total seats.
‘One-third must be preserved’
Abdul Karim said the present parliamentary composition, in which Peninsular Malaysia accounts for more than two-thirds of the seats, could allow constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds majority to be passed without the support of representatives from Sabah and Sarawak.
“That is why we want Sabah and Sarawak’s one-third share to be preserved,” he said.
His remarks came after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Sept 11 that the Federal Constitution would be amended to give Sabah and Sarawak greater parliamentary representation in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Anwar said the possibility of additional parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia could not be ruled out, but this must not undermine the need to increase Sabah and Sarawak’s representation.
He also said the details and mechanism would be discussed with the Election Commission, the state governments and the parties involved.
Abdul Karim welcomes national approach
Abdul Karim, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu information chief, welcomed Anwar’s decision to frame the issue as a national agenda rather than one concerning only Sabah and Sarawak.
“Last night, the prime minister said he wanted the matter to be seen as a national agenda and not to be only looked at by those from Sabah and Sarawak,” he said, referring to Anwar’s remarks at the Malaysia Day celebrations in Kuching yesterday.
“That is what our forefathers wanted, and that is how today’s leaders should look at it,” he said.
