Sabah and Sarawak must get back the 35% share of parliamentary seats consistent with the provisions of the Malaysia Agreement 1963. This was the top resolution adopted at a symposium. With Malaysia Day just around the corner, perhaps this is something the government should ponder on
KUCHING – About 300 delegates from Sabah and Sarawak attended the Borneo States Symposium II held here recently as a follow-up to the first symposium that was held in Kota Kinabalu last year. The main resolution adopted was the call to get back the 35% share of Parliamentary seats as provided for in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA’63).
“The 35% proposal by Sarawak must be implemented as the federal cabinet agreed to this during the Ismail Sabri Administration. There is no reason why Anwar can reject this,” said Prof Dr James Chin, advisor to the Sarawak Initiatives (TSI), co-organiser of the event together with Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR).
“When we get the 35%, it will fundamentally change federal-state relationship. It means Putrajaya cannot ignore Sabah or Sarawak constitutionally. If we don’t get the 35%, then we do not have real leverage as Malaya alone can change the federal constitution at will, as is the situation now,” he added.
Some Sabah and Sarawak NGOs Oppose
Prof Chin also warned that many local NGOs opposed the move to grant Sabah and Sarawak 34% of the seats in parliament.
“There are many well meaning local NGOs here in Sarawak who are influenced by Malayan NGOs who argue about the “one man, one vote” rule. They do not realise they are being manipulated by Malayan NGOs to promote this idea which means we cannot get the 1/3 seats. Another idea they are actively promoting is to grant 1/3 of Dewan Negara seats to Sabah and Sarawak.”
“All this will not work because without a constitutional amendment to grant Sabah and Sarawak 35% of the seats, there is no guarantee that future Putrajaya governments will honour this ad hoc agreement. Hence, we must insist that 35% be written into the Constitution,” added Prof Chin.
Prof Chin is Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania and is widely regarded as the leading authority on political change in Sabah and Sarawak.
Resolutions
The symposium adopted several resolutions after a full day of presentations and panel discussions.
The seven resolutions are:
1. That the Borneo States be allocated at least 35% of the Parliamentary seats.
2. That representatives from the Borneo States be included in all fiscal and monetary policy making agendas.
3. That the Federal Government pay Sabah the 40% rebate as stated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
4. That full devolution of power on education to the Borneo States be carried out immediately with full funding from the Federal Government.
5. That the Governments of the Borneo States collaborate to create the “Borneo School of Economics & Political Science” to educate and train the next generation of leaders.
6. That all Federal funds for the Borneo States be transferred to their consolidated funds to implement projects independently.
7. That equal funding be given to all religious bodies in Sarawak & Sabah. – NMH
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