KUCHING, Oct 16 2026: Regardless of which coalition or parties will be in power at the federal level in future, the Sarawak government will continue to demand for matters related to Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) that have not been resolved at the meetings of the Action Council for the Implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MTPMA63, Deputy Minister of Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali told State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.
She was answering questions from Tellian State Legislative Member (SLM) Royston Valeintine durig question and answer session.
On the Special Grant under Article 112D, Sharifah Hasidah said the Sarawak government appreciates the increase from RM600 million to RM1.5 billion.
"However, the RM1.5 billion remains an interim payment and does not constitute a final resolution to the review of the Special Grant under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.
"As a long-term solution, the Sarawak government has proposed the establishment of a clear and consistent formula to determine the rate of the Special Grant," she said, adding that this proposed formula is still under discussion between the Sarawak government and the federal government.
She added to date, no definitive formula has been agreed upon.
On the demand for One-Third Parliamentary Representation, she said the Sarawak Government maintains its position that the representation of Sabah and Sarawak in Parliament should reflect the spirit and foundational principles upon which Malaysia was formed in 1963.
She said during the meeting of the MA63 Implementation Action Council on Sept 11 2026, the federal government agreed in principle to increase the ratio of representation for Sabah and Sarawak in the Dewan Rakyat from the current level.
However, Sharifah Hasidah said the implementation mechanism, including the specific number of seats and the necessary amendments to the Federal Constitution, remains to be refined.
"The Sarawak government will continue to pursue outstanding matters through negotiations with the federal government, utilising the existing discussion platform - the Implementation Action Council for the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)," she said.
She stressed that the demand for one-third of the Parliamentary seats is intended to ensure adequate representation for Sabah and Sarawak in Parliament, adding that it is not merely about increasing the number of seats for Sarawak and Sabah.
"More importantly, it is about ensuring that Sarawak and Sabah have adequate representation in Parliament, particularly regarding proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution that could affect the rights and interests of Sarawak and Sabah.
"By holding at least one-third of the total seats in the Dewan Rakyat, Sabah and Sarawak collectively gain a more significant standing in the Constitutional amendment process, which requires a two-thirds majority support in Parliament.
"This is also consistent with the situation at the time of the formation of Malaysia in 1963, when the seats allocated to Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore combined accounted for more than one-third of the total seats in the Dewan Rakyat.
"Consequently, the Sarawak government views this issue not merely as a matter of numbers, but as a means to ensure that the status, rights, and interests of Sabah and Sarawak—as partners in the formation of Malaysia—continue to have meaningful protection within the Federal structure," Sharifah Hasidah said,
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