Sharifah Hasidah renews call for one-third parliamentary representation

Borneo Post

2 days ago

Sharifah Hasidah delivering her keynote address.
KUCHING (June 27): Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and MA63), Dato Sri Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, was in Kuala Lumpur to renew the call for the restoration of constitutional equality for Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The MA63 must be fully honoured in both spirit and practice, she said in her keynote address at a roundtable titled 'Rights, Equality and MA63: Restoring One-Third Parliamentary Representation for Sabah and Sarawak', held at the auditorium of Wisma Badan Peguam Malaysia on Wednesday.
Sharifah Hasidah emphasised that the issue transcends politics, describing it as a constitutional responsibility rooted in the formation of Malaysia.
'This is not about special treatment. This is about restoring what was originally agreed upon when Malaysia was formed in 1963. When we are partners, we are equal.'
She also recalled that the original structure of the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) in 1963 ensured that Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore collectively held one-third of parliamentary seats – a deliberate safeguard to prevent unilateral constitutional amendments by Malaya that could undermine the Bornean states' rights.
However, following Singapore's departure in 1965 and subsequent redistributions, Sabah and Sarawak now collectively hold only 25 per cent of seats.
'We believe that realising this will further strengthen the Federation – not weaken it – and uphold the original vision of Malaysia as an equal and inclusive union' she said.
Sharifah Hasidah also provided updates on ongoing deliberations under the Majlis Tindakan Pelaksanaan MA63 (MA63 Implementation Action Council), including the formation of technical and working committees, and tripartite negotiations involving the Federal and State Attorneys-General.
While acknowledging differing legal interpretations of key terms such as 'safeguards', she noted that the process remains constructive.
'This is about justice, mutual respect, and safeguarding the foundation on which Malaysia was built'.
In his welcoming remarks, Abang Iwawan, an elected Council Member of the Malaysian Bar and Deputy Chair of its Human Rights Committee, also emphasised the human rights dimension of the issue.
'The erosion of this safeguard raises serious concerns, not only about the integrity of the original constitutional arrangement, but also from a human rights perspective.'
'As minority regions with significant Indigenous populations, Sabah and Sarawak were guaranteed one-third representation to ensure they would have a real voice in national decision-making,' he said.
'Weakening that protection risks entrenching systemic inequality and excluding communities that have long been underrepresented in the federal structure,' he stressed.
The roundtable was jointly organised by the Malaysian Bar Council and the CSO Platform for Reform, and convened legal experts, policymakers, and civil society organisations to explore the legal, historical, and human rights dimensions of Sabah and Sarawak's place in the Federation.
According to the organisers, the roundtable aimed not only to raise public awareness but also to stimulate meaningful dialogue toward restoring equal representation, structural reforms, and reaffirming Malaysia's federal character.