KOTA KINABALU: 11 September 2026 — The Cabinet has agreed in principle to increase the number of parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak, taking into account a higher representation ratio for both states compared to the current position.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision was made by the Cabinet last Wednesday and the Election Commission (EC) has been informed to begin negotiations.
“The addition of Members of Parliament is within the EC’s jurisdiction. This means there may also be additions from Peninsular Malaysia, additions from Sabah and Sarawak.
“But these additions cannot compromise the principle that the representation ratio for Sabah and Sarawak must be higher than what it is now,” he said.
He added that the increase must raise the representation ratio for Sabah and Sarawak, while the details and mechanisms need to be discussed with the EC, the states and relevant parties.
However, he was unsure whether the process could be completed before the next general election.
“For this election, I am not sure if it can be done in time. Because it requires consensus, and then there is a process.
“I do not want to interfere with the constitutional process, but what is important is that the decision has been made and the EC has been informed,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether the target of 40 per cent of parliamentary seats from Sabah and Sarawak was a consideration, given the current number of 56 out of 222 seats, Anwar replied:
“No, in 1963 involving Singapore it was 1/3.”
Anwar said the main point was that the increase would raise the representation ratio for Sabah and Sarawak, while the implementation mechanism would need to be discussed with the EC and relevant parties.
He said this at a press conference after the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) meeting at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today.
