{
  "id": 6744765,
  "title": "Setuju tambah kerusi Parlimen mesti disusuli tindakan, kata menteri Sarawak",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/setuju-tambah-kerusi-parlimen-mesti-disusuli-tindakan-kata-menteri-6744765",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-11T09:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/09/11/setuju-tambah-kerusi-parlimen-mesti-disusuli-tindakan-kata-menteri-sarawak"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sarawak Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah emphasized that the principle expressed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regarding increasing the number of parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak must be followed by concrete action. The minister stressed that Putrajaya must ensure the provision does not remain merely a wish, and instead produces tangible changes in parliamentary representation. Karim, who is also the Head of Communications for the Pakatan Rakyat (PMB) party, stated that the prime minister's sentiments must be backed up by concrete measures, indicating that this is not just his words but something that will be implemented. The effort must be made to address this matter, ultimately giving the people of Sabah and Sarawak hope that this is not merely Anwar's words but something that will actually happen. Earlier, Anwar announced that the government had agreed in principle to amend the Constitution to allow for an increased number of parliamentary representatives from Sabah and Sarawak, in line with the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63). He said the main principle is a higher ratio of seats for Sabah and Sarawak, but Putrajaya has yet to set a specific number. Karim said Anwar's stance reflects the spirit behind the formation of Malaysia in 1963 and the protection promised to Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore, including the representation arrangement that gives Borneo states and Singapore roughly 1/3 of the seats in Parliament. When Malaysia was formed in 1963, Malaya was allocated 105 of the 160 seats in the Dewan Rakyat (representing 65% of the vote in the House), while Sarawak held 24 seats, Sabah 16, and Singapore 15. This arrangement prevented the Malay Peninsula from achieving the 2/3 majority required to amend the Constitution. However, after Singapore left Malaysia, its 15 seats were not redistributed to Sabah and Sarawak, leaving Borneo states without a veto. Now, Sabah and Sarawak together have 56 parliamentary seats (25.2% of the 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat), which is less than 18 seats short of the 1/3 (74 seats) target. Karim noted that previous leaders overlooked the issue, citing the lack of a formal or specific written rule in the Constitution. He thanked Anwar for understanding what cannot be seen or choosing to ignore it for many MPs from Malaysia Borneo and former prime ministers.",
  "summary": "Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah kata Putrajaya mesti memastikan cadangan perdana menteri tidak kekal sekadar hasrat.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Hasil Sabah, petroleum Sarawak dan kerusi Parlimen tumpuan mesyuarat MA63",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/hasil-sabah-petroleum-sarawak-dan-kerusi-parlimen-tumpuan-mesyuarat",
        "published": "2026-09-10T01:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}