Salleh seeks clarity on extra parliamentary seats for Sabah, Sarawak

Former Sabah chief minister Salleh Said Keruak has urged the Malaysian government to clarify the number of additional parliamentary seats it intends to allocate to Sabah and Sarawak, as well as whether the goal is to achieve one-third representation for the two states. Keruak, who is also the Sabah Umno treasurer, argued that adding more seats in Peninsular Malaysia without increasing representation in Sabah and Sarawak would not strengthen those regions.

He emphasized that the true issue is the proportion of parliamentary seats held by Sabah and Sarawak, not the sheer number of seats added. The government's objective should align with the spirit and balance of Malaysia's formation in 1963, where Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore together held about one-third of the parliamentary seats.

Following Singapore's departure in 1965, the question remains whether Sabah and Sarawak's representation should still reflect the original intent. Currently, Sabah and Sarawak require 18 more parliamentary constituencies to reach the one-third figure, based on the 222 seats in Parliament. The Election Commission denied a report claiming a proposal to increase Sarawak's constituencies by 15, stating there are no such plans, with only a seventh Sarawak state constituency review and redelineation proposal on display until September 30.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said the Federal Constitution will be amended to allow for increased parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak in line with the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.