Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Cabinet has agreed in principle to increase the number of parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak to raise their overall representation ratio in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The decision was reached during the MA63 Implementation Action Council meeting on Friday alongside Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the Sabah International Convention Centre.
Anwar clarified that any future seat additions must result in a higher representation ratio for the Borneo states rather than merely maintaining existing proportions, though the final figures and mechanisms remain subject to Election Commission (EC) procedures and political negotiations.
He noted that while the EC has been notified to conduct the required consultations, the additional seats may not be finalised before the next general election due to constitutional processes.
Anwar added that the Federal Government will also expedite the phased appointment of Sabahans and Sarawakians to key departmental positions as recognised under MA63, urging all Malaysians to view the agreement as a unifying national commitment rather than a regional concession.
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