KUCHING – Federal authorities have tentatively agreed to explore additional parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, with legislative details to be finalized.
Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof confirmed the preliminary agreement during the Malaysia Agreement Implementation Action Council 1963 (MTPMA63) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The MTPMA63 body was established to address issues related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which outlines the terms of Sarawak and Sabah’s entry into Malaysia.
The current allocation of parliamentary seats has been a contentious issue for decades, with Sarawak and Sabah seeking greater representation despite lower population counts compared to Peninsular Malaysia. The MTPMA63 meeting marks a critical step in resolving this longstanding constitutional debate.
The proposal seeks to address longstanding demands from East Malaysian states for fairer representation in the Dewan Rakyat.
Legal interpretations among federal and state Attorneys general remain divergent, but the principle of considering more seats has been accepted by Anwar.
Fadillah emphasized that further consultations are needed to resolve technical and constitutional issues before any formal proposal is submitted.
The two-hour session included Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari and Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, alongside federal and state ministers.
Fadillah, as MTPMA63 Technical Committee chair, stated parliamentary action will only follow after states reach consensus on policy frameworks.
“Policy decisions must precede legislative action, but legal discrepancies currently require further refinement,” he explained. The exact number of additional seats and their distribution across constituencies remain under discussion.
Constitutional experts have noted that adjusting parliamentary seats requires balancing population distribution with regional equity, a complex process that demands thorough intergovernmental cooperation.
Officials described the meeting as a key milestone in strengthening federal-state relations under the MTPMA63 framework.
Attendees also included Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang, Entrepreneurship Minister Ewon Benedick, and PM’s Department officials responsible for Sabah and Sarawak affairs.
Federal officials reiterated that any changes must comply with constitutional procedures and electoral commission guidelines to ensure fair representation.