KUCHING: As Sabah and Sarawak push for a greater share of seats in Malaysia’s Parliament, media practitioners from Borneo are voicing strong support for restoring a one-third allocation.
They argue that this shift is vital for protecting East Malaysia’s unique rights and interests, as promised when Malaysia was formed in 1963.
Fair representation, they say, would help ensure that East Malaysia’s voice is fully heard in national decisions, reinforcing Sabah and Sarawak’s status as equal partners in the Federation.
These insights from the media highlight the need for balanced representation and its potential to address regional needs and protect autonomy.
RONNIE TEO TECK WEI
President of Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA), 37
“The call from Sarawak and Sabah for a one-third allocation of Parliamentary seats aims to protect rights and ensure fair representation, as promised in 1963 when Malaysia was formed. This move seeks to place Sabah and Sarawak on equal footing in national decision-making processes. Such a demand has the potential to alter the political balance in Parliament, reducing Peninsular Malaysia’s dominance and fostering a more balanced representation for the entire country.”
ROZLIN ROSMIN
Reporter, 30
“The demands made by the Sarawak government are seen as relevant in the current context, especially given that Singapore is no longer part of Malaysia. This should have been implemented long ago, following Singapore’s exit from Malaysia in 1965. Allocating a 35 per cent quota of Parliamentary seats to Borneo would also ensure that the voices of elected representatives from Sabah and Sarawak are genuinely heard at the federal level and in the House of Representatives. This would also impact the passage of Bills or amendments, including those related to health, education, and infrastructure in the Bornean region that require greater attention from the federal government.”
DESIREE DAVID
Reporter, 27
“Political fairness involves equal representation for all regions. Allocating one-third of representation would ensure that the needs and interests of East Malaysia are adequately considered in federal decisions. This representation would acknowledge the vast cultural and economic differences between East and West Malaysia, addressing concerns about underrepresentation and marginalisation. In terms of protecting autonomy and special rights, under MA63, Sabah and Sarawak were granted special rights such as control over land, immigration, and local resources. By securing one-third of the seats, Sabah and Sarawak would be in a stronger position to prevent any federal legislation or constitutional amendments that might threaten these autonomy rights, as constitutional changes require a two-thirds majority.”
IRFAN NASRULLAH JAFLI
Reporter, 24
“Increasing the number of Parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak would give the Bornean states greater influence in national decision-making. This would, in turn, lead to more equitable policies that consider the unique needs and interests of these states. Furthermore, the federal system could be strengthened, promoting a sense of unity and cooperation between states if more seats were allocated to Sabah and Sarawak.”
NICKELYSON LAKUN
Editor, 23
“The larger geographical size of Borneo compared to Peninsular Malaysia should be factored into fulfilling this quota, even though the combined population of these two states is smaller than that of the peninsula. This would give Sabah and Sarawak stronger influence, particularly in policy formation. With this addition of Parliamentary seats, Sabah and Sarawak would have a louder voice in national decision-making, enabling us to more effectively advocate for state interests, including MA63.”
