Petroleum, revenue and seats: key issues as Anwar chairs MA63 meeting

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is set to chair a meeting of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council in Kota Kinabalu on Friday, with Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg and Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor expected to push for greater parliamentary representation for their respective states. The request stems from the original 1963 agreement, which allocated 55 (or 34%) of parliamentary seats to Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, to prevent Malaya from amending the Federal Constitution unilaterally.

However, as political analyst Awang Azman Pawi notes, no such guarantee was made for Sabah and Sarawak following Singapore's departure from Malaysia.

The meeting will also address the ongoing petroleum dispute, with discussions potentially centering around Petros's role as the sole gas aggregator in Sarawak, valued at RM10 billion annually. Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim highlighted the potential progress on this issue, while stressing the importance of litigating the matter rather than engaging in "a barter trade among political leaders".

Meanwhile, Sabah and Sarawak are seeking one-third representation in the Dewan Rakyat, a demand based on the original 1963 agreement and now reflecting their desire to shift from "kingmaker politics" to "constitutional insurance". Political analyst James Chin predicts that granting additional parliamentary seats to the two states will bolster the federal government's relationship with Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, potentially resulting in greater support for Prime Minister Anwar's government.