by David E.
KOTA KINABALU: September 12, 2026 – STAR Sabah president Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan has welcomed in principle the Federal Government’s agreement to increase Sabah and Sarawak’s parliamentary representation, but sharply criticised the lack of specifics and what he called Kuala Lumpur’s use of Singapore’s exit as an excuse to avoid the 35 per cent entitlement.
In a direct response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement after the MA63 meeting in Kota Kinabalu yesterday, Dr Jeffrey, when contacted by TV Sabah journalists, said: “The Prime Minister’s two statements yesterday revealed everything: He agreed ‘in principle’ to an increase. Why? To what amount? He raised Singapore as an excuse to deny Sabah and Sarawak’s demand for the 35 per cent entitlement, without making it clear to Sabah and Sarawak. Do we see how Kuala Lumpur is playing its game? This is the same game they are playing over the 35 per cent and on MA63 generally. Frankly, I am disappointed.”
Dr Jeffrey said the Prime Minister’s announcement raised two immediate questions: the actual number of seats to be added, and the constitutional basis for denying Sabah and Sarawak’s 35 per cent share.
“We should go back to the original ratio of 35%. Singapore was part of the Sabah and Sarawak equation in the federation. It was a constitutional safeguard clearly stated in paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Inter-Governmental Committee Report,” he said.
He noted that when Singapore left in 1965, its 15 parliamentary seats were not reallocated to the Borneo states. Subsequent redelineations reduced Sabah and Sarawak’s combined share to about 25%, or 56 out of 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat.
“This is not a matter of asking for favours. It is about restoring a constitutional safeguard designed to prevent Peninsular Malaysia from unilaterally amending the Federal Constitution,” Dr Jeffrey said.
He added that his position is reinforced by the Sabah Law Society’s clear and consistent stand on the matter. He cited SLS former president Datuk Roger Chin’s argument that reinstating one-third parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak is “not merely symbolic, but a practical necessity to ensure that the interests and needs of Sabah and Sarawak are adequately addressed in national policy decisions.”
The SLS has also dismissed suggestions to increase Borneo representation in the Dewan Negara as an insufficient substitute, noting that the upper house “has limited legislative power” and “does not possess the authority to make final decisions on legislative matters.”
“The SLS has made it clear: the one-third representation must be in the Dewan Rakyat, where the real power lies. Increasing senators is not a substitute for substantive legislative influence,” Dr Jeffrey said.
He urged the Prime Minister to table the necessary constitutional amendment without delay and to ensure that the mechanism for increasing seats results in Sabah and Sarawak’s combined share returning to at least 35% of the Dewan Rakyat.
“The Prime Minister has taken an important first step. Now he must complete the journey. Sabah and Sarawak will accept nothing less than the full restoration of the 1963 ratio,” Dr Jeffrey said.
