KUCHING: Sabah and Sarawak must reclaim the 35 per cent share of parliamentary seats, in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
This was the top resolution adopted during the Borneo States Symposium ‘Realising the Dreams and Visions of the People of Borneo States’ at the Borneo Cultural Museum (BCM) on July 27.
Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) advisor Prof Dr James Chin said the 35 per cent proposal by Sarawak must be implemented as the federal Cabinet agreed to this during former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration.
“There is no reason why Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can reject this proposal,” he said in a statement.
Chin believed when the two Borneo states are able to get 35 per cent of the parliamentary seats, it will fundamentally change the federal-state relationship.
“It means Putrajaya cannot ignore Sabah or Sarawak constitutionally. If we don’t get the 35 per cent, then we do not have real leverage as Malaya alone can change the federal constitution at will, as is the situation now,” he said.
The professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania warned that many local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) oppose the move to grant Sabah and Sarawak 35 per cent of the seats in parliament.
“There are many well-meaning local NGOs here in Sarawak who are influenced by Malayan NGOs who argue about the ‘one man, one vote’ rule.
“They do not realise they are being manipulated by Malayan NGOs to promote this idea which means we cannot get the one third seats. Another idea they are actively promoting is to grant one third of Dewan Negara seats to Sabah and Sarawak.
“All this will not work because without a constitutional amendment to grant Sabah and Sarawak 35 per cent of the seats, there is no guarantee that future Putrajaya governments will honour this ad hoc agreement. Hence, we must insist that 35 per cent be written into the Constitution,” he said.
Meanwhile, the symposium also adopted several resolutions.
The seven resolutions are:
- That the Borneo States be allocated at least 35 per cent of the Parliamentary seats.
- That representatives from the Borneo States be included in all fiscal and monetary policy making agendas.
- That the federal government pay Sabah the 40 per cent rebate as stated in the MA63.
- That full devolution of power on education to the Borneo States be carried out immediately with full funding from the federal government.
- That the governments of the Borneo States collaborate to create the ‘Borneo School of Economics and Political Science’ to educate and train the next generation of leaders.
- That all federal funds for the Borneo States be transferred to their consolidated funds to implement projects independently.
- That equal funding be given to all religious bodies in Sarawak and Sabah.
Earlier, the symposium was co-organised by TSI and Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR).
