Constitution to Be Amended to Increase Sabah, Sarawak Parliamentary Seats – Anwar

KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Constitution will be amended to allow for an increase in the number of parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the increase must ensure that Sabah and Sarawak have a higher proportion of parliamentary representation than they currently have.

“Some decisions can be expedited as usual, but one of the more significant decisions is to amend the Constitution to allow greater representation of Members of Parliament from Sabah and Sarawak, in line with what was promised under the Malaysia Agreement, MA63.

“The increase must also result in a higher representation ratio for Sabah and Sarawak. It must be understood that any increase in the number of MPs falls under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission (EC),” he said.

He said this at a press conference after chairing the 2026 Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) meeting at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here on Friday.

Anwar said the possibility of increasing the number of parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia could not be ruled out, but stressed that this must not undermine the principle that Sabah and Sarawak’s proportion of representation should be increased from its current level.

He referred to the situation when Malaysia was formed in 1963, when Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak collectively accounted for one-third of parliamentary representation.

“Under MA63, with Singapore included at the time, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak together made up one-third of the representation. Today, the proportion is obviously lower,” he explained.

Anwar said representatives from Sabah and Sarawak would subsequently hold discussions with political parties in Peninsular Malaysia on the matter.

He said the principle of increasing parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak had earlier been agreed upon by the Cabinet, taking into account the need to increase the two regions’ share of representation.

“The term ‘increase’ can be misleading. An increase does not mean merely maintaining or equalising the existing proportion.

“What is important is an increase in the number of seats together with a higher proportion of representation for Sabah and Sarawak. That is the first and most important point,” he said.

Asked whether the government was aiming for Sabah and Sarawak to hold 40 per cent of the total parliamentary seats, Anwar said no specific figure had been set.

Instead, he again referred to the position in 1963, when Singapore was part of Malaysia and the three territories collectively held one-third of the representation, adding that the implementation mechanism would need to be further refined.

“The principle is that there must be an increase that raises the proportion of representation. We have agreed on that, but the details and mechanism will, of course, need to be discussed with the EC, the states and the political parties involved,” he said.

The meeting was also attended by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.

Sinar Harian