THE Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has resurrected the longstanding argument that Sarawak and Sabah should have a one-third representation in Parliament.

This would be a reversion to 1963 when seats in Parliament were not allocated proportionally based on size of population or electorate between Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.

Malaya, which had 71.40% of Malaysia’s population then, was given 104 or 65.41% of the seats while Sarawak was given 24 seats or 15.09% despite having only 7.39% of the population.

Under the same system, Sabah got 16 seats (10.07%) for 4.57% of the population and Singapore got 15 seats (9.43%) despite having 16.63% of the population.

Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore altogether were given 55 out of 159 seats or 34.59% and it was a deliberate measure to deny Malaya a two-third parliamentary majority, which is needed for amending the federal constitution.

The measure fell apart in 1965 when Singapore withdrew from the federation and their 15 seats went to Malaya instead of being inherited by Sabah and Sarawak.

SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian said the lack of one-third representation meant the two Borneo territories had lost the power to bargain for their rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 from Putrajaya.

Dr Sim, in his media conference, painted a hypothetical scenario where the Umno-led BN reneged on its promise to return the two states their eroded rights and doubled down on their own interests instead.

The BN Stampin candidate said without the one-third representation, Sabah and Sarawak are not in a position to bargain.

The total of 56 parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak represents only 25% in the 222-seat Parliament. – May 1, 2018.