MIRI, Sept 11 2026: Senator Abun Sui Anyit believed that the commitment by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to increase the parliamentary representation of Sabah and Sarawak is in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He said the increase in parliamentary representation must be based on the constitutional arrangements and principles upon which Malaysia was formed, and not merely treated as an ordinary increase in the number of parliamentary seats.
“We should give credit where credit is due,” he said in a statement, believing that the prime minister is fully aware of the historical and constitutional circumstances surrounding the formation of Malaysia in 1963, including the positions of Sabah and Sarawak within the Federation.
“Therefore, I reject attempts to portray the prime minister as a weak leader simply because his government has chosen to address these longstanding issues through constitutional processes, consultation and consensus,” Abun said, referring to a comment by former law minister Zaid Ibrahim posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) recently that Anwar was a weak prime minister and would concede to whatever Sarawak wanted.
Abun, who is also PKR Ulu Rajang branch chairman, stressed that what is important now is to allow the government under Anwar to continue working within the maximum extent permitted by the Federal Constitution to fulfil the commitments under MA63.
“I therefore urge Sabahans and Sarawakians, as well as the governments of Sabah and Sarawak, to give the federal government the necessary space and support to complete this important work.
“At the same time, I urge all political leaders who aspire to become prime minister of Malaysia to remember one fundamental principle that whoever holds the position must be a prime minister for all Malaysians — including Sabah and Sarawak — and must never bully, marginalise or treat East Malaysians as second-class citizens.
“If Anwar can continue his full term and deliver further meaningful progress on MA63, including restoring the appropriate parliamentary representation of Sabah and Sarawak, that would be a significant achievement for the Federation.
“I therefore welcome and appreciate the prime minister's commitment to increase the parliamentary representation of Sabah and Sarawak, and I hope this commitment will now proceed through the constitutional process towards a concrete and meaningful outcome,” he said.
Abun said MA63 must be implemented based on its constitutional foundations and historical intent.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the Implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Action Council meeting Kota Kinabalu this morning, Anwar had said that Sabah and Sarawak would get a higher proportion of parliamentary representation, adding that both states would have an increase in the number of parliamentary seats.
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