By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 19: The push by Sarawak and Sabah for increased parliamentary seats has little to do with what West Malaysians like or do not like, but about restoring their rightful status as equal partners alongside Malaya, each forming one-third of Malaysia as agreed in 1963.
Responding to concerns raised by analyst Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara and Bersih chairman Faisal Abdul Aziz, Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan, Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, stressed that the issue is rooted in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and not in population size, rural-urban divide, or constituency balance.
In a recent FMT report, Azmi cautioned that Sarawak’s demand for more parliamentary seats based on MA63 could spark dissatisfaction in Peninsular Malaysia, where political parties might also push for greater representation.
Faisal, meanwhile, warned that giving East Malaysia one-third of the Dewan Rakyat seats would create “imbalance” and “unfairness” in nationwide vote distribution, suggesting instead that Sabah and Sarawak’s concerns be addressed through the Dewan Negara, which holds veto power over constitutional amendments.
Dr Jayum argued that such views miss the point of the revision and original argument.
“The exercise that Sabah and Sarawak appear to have secured from the federal government relates to MA63 and the restoration of the legislative status of Sabah and Sarawak in the Malaysian Parliament as equal partners in the federation; not as constituent parts like the 11 states in Malaya,” he told DayakDaily today.
He explained that democratic representation carries a dual premise: population size and equality of constituent parts of the union.
Citing the United States, he noted that every state is assured equal representation in the Senate, while population size determines representation in the House of Representatives.
“The biggest and most populous state such as California sends 52 congressmen compared to smaller states like Alaska, Delaware, North and South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming, which each send one,” he said.
He added that Malaysia mirrors this structure, with the Dewan Rakyat based on constituencies and population, and the Dewan Negara designed to provide balance. In Malaysia, 70 senators sit in the upper house with 13 elected by state assemblies and 44 appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Jayum emphasised that any increase in parliamentary seats must apply to both houses, not just the Senate. To suggest otherwise, he said, was a “deflection” from what Sabah and Sarawak have consistently fought for.
“The long-term picture is to restore Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners alongside Malaya, each forming one-third of Malaysia as agreed in 1963. This has little to do with what West Malaysians like or do not like. It is a fact of Malaysia’s founding history,” he stressed.
However, he cautioned that the road ahead may be “long and slippery,” as restoring Sabah and Sarawak’s rightful places could eventually trigger broader political and economic restructuring.
“That would reflect the true colour of a multi-ethnic Malaysia, buttressed by multi-ethnicity and multi-culturalism that will naturally surface in the future Malaysia,” he added. — DayakDaily
