Kota Kinabalu: Simply adding a handful of extra seats falls far short of what Sabah and Sarawak deserve under the MA63 one-third partnership, says PGRS Supreme Council Datuk John Ambrose (pic).
“The parliamentary review must instead restore their standing as equal founding partners, not just treat them as additional states,” John Ambrose insisted.
Welcoming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment to amend the Federal Constitution for more Borneo seats, John said the reform must be guided by the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and not just population numbers or administrative convenience.
He backed the view of former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Salleh Said Keruak that the goal is not just quantity, but restoring a meaningful balance that was lost when Singapore left in 1965 and its seats were never redistributed to Sabah and Sarawak.
“Sabah and Sarawak did not merely join an existing federation instead they helped form Malaysia. That founding equality must be written back into our parliamentary numbers,” John said.
He urged that the target should be one-third representation for the two states combined, not token increases.
He also called for fully transparent consultations with Sabah and Sarawak governments and all stakeholders; and a permanent formula to ensure Borneo’s share can never be diluted in future boundary reviews.
“Seats are not just numbers — they are our voice. If we settle for too little now, we will be locked in second-class status for another generation…this is our chance to honour MA63 properly and we must not settle for less,” he warned.
