No room to negotiate one-third representation principle, says Karim

 The Sarawak minister says the arrangement is rooted in the constitutional provisions established when Malaysia was formed in 1963.

Sarawak minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah praised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for describing the issue as a national agenda rather than one concerning only Sabah and Sarawak.

PETALING JAYA:

There is no basis for further negotiation of the principle of one-third parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak, says Sarawak minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

The tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister said the principle was rooted in the constitutional arrangements made during the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

“When we formed Malaysia in 1963, two-thirds of the seats were allocated to Malaya and one-third to Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak,” he was quoted as saying by the Borneo Post in Kuching today.

Under the 1963 arrangement, the 159-member Dewan Rakyat comprised 104 seats for Malaya, 16 for Sabah, 24 for Sarawak and 15 for Singapore.

Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore together had 55 seats, just over a third of the House, which Karim said reflected what those involved in Malaysia’s formation had agreed upon.

He said the disparity in parliamentary representation emerged after Singapore left Malaysia in 1965 and its 15 parliamentary seats were abolished, leaving Sabah and Sarawak with a smaller proportion of the total seats.

Karim said the present parliamentary composition, in which Peninsular Malaysia accounts for more than two-thirds of the seats, could allow constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds majority to be passed without the support of Sabah and Sarawak representatives.

“That is why we want Sabah and Sarawak’s one-third share to be preserved,” he said.

Karim’s remarks come after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said last Friday (Sept 11) that the Federal Constitution would be amended to give Sabah and Sarawak greater parliamentary representation in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Anwar said while the possibility of more parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia could not be ruled out, it must not undermine the need to increase Sabah and Sarawak’s representation.

He also said the details and mechanism would be discussed with the Election Commission, the state governments and the parties involved.

Karim, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu information chief, praised Anwar for describing the issue as a national agenda rather than one concerning only Sabah and Sarawak.

“Last night, the prime minister said he wanted the matter to be seen as a national agenda and not to be only looked at by those from Sabah and Sarawak.

“That is what our forefathers wanted, and that is how today’s leaders should look at it,” he said, referring to Anwar’s remarks at the Malaysia Day celebrations in Kuching yesterday. - FMT