More Sabah, Sarawak seats will bring back parliamentary balance, says Salleh

Former Sabah Chief Minister Salleh Said Keruak has stated that the proposal put forth by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to add more seats for Sabah and Sarawak in Parliament would restore a crucial balance that existed when Malaysia was formed. Keruak explained that both Borneo states should have at least one-third of the total number of parliamentary seats, in accordance with the protections and spirit of the country's formation.

As the treasurer of Umno Sabah, he noted that Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore collectively provided a vital balance in Parliament when Malaysia was established in 1963. The land of Malaya was allocated 105 out of 160 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, representing 65% of the voting power in that chamber, while Sarawak had 24 seats, Sabah 16, and Singapore 15.

This arrangement prevented Malaya from achieving the two-thirds majority necessary to amend the Constitution. However, following Singapore's departure from Malaysia, the 15 seats it held were not redistributed back to Sabah and Sarawak, causing both states to lose their veto power. Keruak emphasized that the proposal is not merely about granting additional seats to Sabah and Sarawak; it is an effort to restore the essential balance related to Malaysia's original formation.

"Restoring one-third of parliamentary seats is not about weakening Malaysia; on the contrary, it aims to strengthen the federal partnership and respect the foundations that underpinned Malaysia's creation," he said in a statement today. Today, Anwar also stated that the Constitution will be amended to allow for the addition of parliamentary seats for both states, in line with the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63).

He also mentioned the possibility of additional parliamentary seats for Peninsular Malaysia, although it should not undermine the need to increase representation for Sabah and Sarawak.