Sabah, Sarawak’s one-third parliamentary share is constitutional safeguard, not just numbers, says state deputy minister

The Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) said the one-third ratio has its basis in the original formation of Malaysia. — Jabatan Penerangan pic via The Borneo Post

First Published: Wednesday, 14 Oct 2026 12:25 PM MYT

KUCHING, Oct 14 — The one-third parliamentary representation of Sarawak and Sabah in the Dewan Rakyat serves as a constitutional safeguard for the balance of the federation and is not merely a matter of numbers, said Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.

The Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) said the one-third ratio has its basis in the original formation of Malaysia.

“When Malaysia was formed in 1963, Parliament had 159 seats, namely Malaya with 104 seats, Sarawak (24), Sabah (16) and Singapore (15). Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore together held 55 seats, about one-third.

“After Singapore’s separation in 1965, this share was not reallocated. Today Sarawak (31) and Sabah (25) hold 56 of 222 seats, about 25 per cent.

“Applying one-third to the current 222 seats would mean 74 seats,” she told the august House at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here.

She was responding to a question from Chieng Jin Ek (GPS-Bukit Assek) during the question-and-answer session.

Sharifah Hasidah said the ratio matters because constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority, which currently is 148 of 222 MPS.

“In 1963, Malaya’s 104 seats fell short of the 106 then needed.

“Today the Peninsula holds 166 seats, enough to pass an amendment on its own,” she said.

She said the federal government has acknowledged that the one-third representation will require an amendment to the Federal Constitution.

“The agreement in principle is therefore the start of a constitutional process.

“The formula and the number of additional seats have yet to be determined and have to be discussed with the Sarawak and Sabah governments, she said, adding that this matter is separate from the ongoing re-delineation exercise by the Election Commission (EC).

On the constitutional process for increasing parliamentary representation, Sharifah Hasidah said any increase for Sarawak and Sabah requires a constitutional amendment passed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

“Delimitation is then carried out by the EC under Article 113 and the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

“Until these steps are complete, no additional parliamentary seats legally exist. This is why the EC has stated that there is currently no proposal to increase parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak.

“That statement and the federal government’s agreement in principle refer to different stages of the same process,” she explained.

She also said this is separate from the increase of Sarawak state assembly seats from 82 to 99.

“The DUN approved that in 2025, and the EC is now conducting the Seventh Sarawak Redelineation Review, with public inspection from September 1 to 30, 2026.

“The EC has indicated that the new state seats may not be ready in time for the next state election,” she said. — The Borneo Post