Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has expressed concern that a lack of awareness among younger generations and some policymakers about Sarawak’s constitutional rights could jeopardize safeguards enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Speaking during a dialogue at a townhall marking the ninth anniversary of the state administration at Hikmah Exchange on Tuesday (Jan 13), he noted that many Malaysians, including those in Kuala Lumpur, are unfamiliar with the historical and legal foundations that define Sarawak’s position within the federation.
“The new generation of Malaysians may not know the history behind it. Who knows, in the future some may question why Sarawak and Sabah have these special rights, and then move to amend the Constitution and strip them away,” he said.
He emphasised that Sarawak and Sabah’s call to restore one-third representation in the Dewan Rakyat is not politically motivated, but is aimed at safeguarding the rights agreed upon during Malaysia’s formation.
“We are saying that Sabah and Sarawak want to safeguard what was agreed. It is not that Sarawak is saying, ‘I want this’. What we want is fairness,” he said.
Abang Johari explained that at the time of Malaysia’s formation, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore together held more than one-third of parliamentary seats — a structure intended to prevent unilateral constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds majority. However, after Singapore left the federation in 1965, its seats were absorbed by Peninsular Malaysia instead of being redistributed to Sabah and Sarawak.
He also highlighted Sarawak’s autonomy over land matters, noting that this is often misunderstood at the federal level.
“There is a national land code, and there are separate land codes for Sabah and Sarawak. We are not subject to the national land code. This is Sarawak land,” he said.
Emphasising the legal significance of MA63, Abang Johari pointed out that the agreement is registered with the United Nations, giving it international recognition.
“Our agreement, MA63, is registered with the United Nations. This is an international document,” he said, adding that Malaysia Day is observed on Sept 16 because the formation of Malaysia underwent a United Nations review following objections from neighbouring countries.
Addressing arguments that parliamentary representation should be based purely on population size, he said such an approach would undermine democratic fairness.
“You cannot base it solely on population. In the Westminster system, there are constituencies with small populations, yet they still have representation. You must be fair,” he said.
He reiterated that protecting Sarawak’s constitutional position is crucial to ensuring a strong and united Malaysia, adding that the country will remain resilient if its founding agreements are properly understood and respected.
