No room to negotiate one-third representation principle, says Karim

Sarawak minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has stated that there is no room to negotiate the principle of one-third parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had previously described the issue as a national agenda rather than one solely concerning Sabah and Sarawak. The principle is rooted in the constitutional arrangements made during Malaysia's formation in 1963, where two-thirds of the seats were allocated to Malaya and one-third to Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak.

In the 1963 Dewan Rakyat, Malaya had 104 seats, Sabah 16, Sarawak 24, and Singapore 15, totaling 55 seats for Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore, which made up just over a third of the House. Karim noted that the disparity in parliamentary representation emerged after Singapore's departure from Malaysia in 1965, causing the loss of its 15 parliamentary seats.

This has led to Sabah and Sarawak having a smaller proportion of seats in the House. Karim emphasized the need to preserve Sabah and Sarawak's one-third share due to the potential for constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds majority to be passed without their representatives' support.