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Kota Kinabalu: Those against Sabah and Sarawak being entitled to 35 per cent representation in Parliament – consistent with being equal partners when forming Malaysia in 1963 – should heed Bapak Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman’s pledge that the Borneo states will not be Malaya’s colonies.
Tunku’s own words should answer Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s position on the two states, said Warisan Strategic Communications Director Christopher Masudal and Kota Belud Member of Parliament Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis.
They said the former Law Minister cannot invoke Malaya’s interests while ignoring the historical assurances that convinced Sabah and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia.
Tunku, the first Prime Minister, addressed fears of Malayan domination in the Dewan Rakyat on April 28, 1962.
“This was not a slogan invented later,” Masudal and Isnaraissah said.
“It was an assurance by the architect of Malaysia before MA63. Sabah and Sarawak agreed to form the Federation of Malaysia with Malaya and Singapore on the basis that they would be partners, not subordinate territories.”They said Zaid is entitled to defend the interests of peninsula, but must do so on the basis of complete history.
They said the call to increase Sabah and Sarawak’s parliamentary representation is not an attempt to diminish Peninsular Malaysia, Malays, Islam or the Malay Rulers, whose constitutional positions are protected.
“It is about honouring the constitutional compact on which the Federation of Malaysia was formed,” they said.
When Malaysia was formed in 1963, Malaya held 104 of the 159 Dewan Rakyat seats. Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore collectively held 55 seats, or about 34.6 per cent.
“Malaya had an ordinary majority, but it could not amend the Constitution without support from the other founding partners,” they said.
“This was the practical meaning of constitutional balance in the new federation.” After Singapore was expelled in 1965, they said, that balance was lost.
Sabah and Sarawak today hold 56 of 222 parliamentary seats, or merely about 25.2 per cent. A two-thirds constitutional amendment can now be passed without support from a single Sabah or Sarawak MP, they said.
“The lawful remedy is an amendment to Article 46 of the Federal Constitution to increase Sabah and Sarawak’s share of parliamentary representation and restore meaningful Borneo participation in constitutional decisions,” they said.
