HISTORICAL inconsistencies and decisions that go against the original spirit of Malaysia’s formation should be corrected.
This includes redistributing the parliamentary seats that were allocated to Singapore before the city-state was removed from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965 to Sarawak and Sabah.
In 1963, Malaya held 104 seats in the federal parliament, which then consisted of 159 members, while Sarawak, Sabah, and Singapore held 55 seats, making up 34.6 per cent.
When Singapore left the Federation of Malaysia in 1965, Singapore’s 15 parliamentary seats were not redistributed to Sabah and Sarawak.
Currently, the number of seats for states in Peninsular Malaysia stands at 166, representing 75 per cent of the total seats.
In comparison, Sarawak and Sabah hold 56 seats, or 25 per cent of the total parliamentary seats. You certainly know the political implications of such dominance over Sarawak and Sabah.
POLITICAL DOMINANCE
For amendments that involve the special interests of Sabah and Sarawak, such as autonomy rights, territorial boundaries, or privileges under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, the consent of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah and Sarawak is indeed mandatory.
However, for other types of constitutional amendments that do not affect the interests of Sabah and Sarawak, the amendments can be approved with only a two-thirds majority, even without support from Sarawak or Sabah.
This means that unless the amendment affects the special interests of Sarawak or Sabah, it can still be passed without their support, as long as a two-thirds majority is achieved in the Dewan Rakyat. Are we ready to face this risk and bear the long-term consequences? We shouldn’t wait until it’s too late to act.
With 166 seats in Peninsular Malaysia – exceeding two-thirds of the parliamentary seats, this means that the Federal Constitution can be amended without needing the support of Members of Parliament from Sarawak and Sabah.
A two-thirds majority requires 148 votes to pass an amendment to the constitution.
Yes, who can guarantee that matters concerning Sabah and Sarawak will continue to be protected in the future?
In the past, particularly after the state of emergency was imposed following the May 13, 1969 tragedy, various steps have been taken to erode the rights of Sabah and Sarawak.
We cannot allow history to repeat itself. Otherwise, our future generations may regret that their leaders failed to defend the rights of Sarawak and Sabah in the Dewan Rakyat.
Therefore, the government must be committed to ensuring that the matters contained in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) are addressed in accordance with the constitution and the existing legal framework.
The aspirations, spirit, and original purpose of Malaysia’s formation must be recognised and respected. One of these includes representative and fair representation in accordance with the original ratio and agreement.
The need for significant representation aims to balance the power and rights of the people in the two Borneo states compared to the states of Peninsular Malaysia. It should be remembered that Sarawak and Sabah were given special status as partners forming Malaysia.
The position of Sarawak and Sabah in Malaysia is not on par with ordinary states but as entities that jointly formed Malaysia through MA63. This agreement provides guarantees in several areas, including privileged rights in governance, immigration, and development.
One-third representation in parliament is an important reflection that shows Sarawak and Sabah are recognised as main partners in the federation. This would also prevent any domination by Peninsular Malaysia that could undermine the autonomy rights of Sarawak and Sabah.
Previously, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg called for the restoration of one-third of parliamentary seats to Sarawak and Sabah to ensure the “protection” of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
NATIONAL DECISION
The restoration of 35 per cent of parliamentary seats is crucial to prevent amendments to the Federal Constitution, considering that parliamentary seats currently exceed two-thirds in Peninsular Malaysia.
This call is to prevent parliament from amending the Federal Constitution in ways that would affect the interests of these two states.
As two regions geographically distant from Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah require a stronger voice in the national decision-making process. Without sufficient representation, both states will be in an imbalanced position in terms of political influence.
With one-third of parliamentary seats, Sarawak and Sabah can ensure that decisions made at the federal level consider the needs and aspirations of the people in Borneo.
This can prevent an excessive concentration of power in Peninsular Malaysia, which could indirectly lead to the neglect of the rights and interests of Sarawak and Sabah.
When Malaysia was formed in 1963, one of the key commitments was to ensure that Sarawak and Sabah would not be treated as “ordinary states” within the Federation.
One-third representation in parliament is a form of respect for this commitment, ensuring that Sarawak and Sabah continue to receive privileges as federal partners.
This is an important recognition in maintaining the initial commitment and securing a more inclusive and harmonious future for Malaysia.
History has shown that Sarawak and Sabah often face challenges in terms of infrastructure development compared to Peninsular Malaysia. With one-third representation in parliament, representatives from these two states can advocate for a more inclusive and comprehensive development agenda in line with their needs.
This is important because Sarawak and Sabah have large geographic areas and challenging geographical conditions. Greater representation will ensure that parliament focuses on balanced development between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.
These two states have unique indigenous populations, including the Iban, Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, Bidayuh, and others. These communities have their own distinct cultures and traditions, which must be respected and protected by the Federation of Malaysia.
One-third representation gives a stronger voice to Sarawak and Sabah leaders to advocate for the rights of these indigenous communities, ensuring their traditions remain preserved and protected within the country’s laws and policies.
A stable federal system relies on balanced cooperation among all states. One-third representation for Sarawak and Sabah will create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding between the states within the Federation of Malaysia.
With an equal number of seats, any decision involving major constitutional changes would require support from representatives of both these regions, thus making national political stability more assured.
Granting one-third representation to Sarawak and Sabah in parliament will also enhance the sense of belonging for the people of these two states within Malaysia. They will feel more valued and respected within the federation, fostering a stronger spirit of patriotism.
IMPROVING PERCEPTION
This can also improve the perception that Sarawak and Sabah are often sidelined in national decision-making, especially on issues of development and economy. The people of Sarawak and Sabah who feel involved will be more confident that their rights and voices are taken into account.
Economically, Sarawak and Sabah are major contributors to the national economy through natural resources such as oil, gas, and timber. However, despite this substantial contribution, the level of economic development in Sarawak and Sabah still lags behind that of the states in Peninsular Malaysia.
With one-third representation, issues of fair revenue distribution and economic development can be advocated, ensuring that the wealth generated in Sarawak and Sabah is used for the benefit of the people in these two states.
Indeed, one-third representation of parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah is not only appropriate and reasonable, but necessary to preserve the integrity and strength of the Federation of Malaysia.
By ensuring that the voices of Sarawak and Sabah are heard in parliament, Malaysia can become a more just, inclusive, and balanced nation.
Dato Dr Jeniri Amir is a political analyst and senior fellow of the Malaysian Council of Professors (MPN)
