SARAWAK rights activist Peter John Jaban has fiercely rebuked former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s suggestion that Sarawak’s push for greater autonomy and control over its oil and gas resources should be debated in Parliament, calling it a misguided attempt to dilute the state’s constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
In a fiery statement, the Sarawakians for Sarawak founder, argued that MA63 is not up for debate but is a “constitutional duty” that demands enforcement.
Responding to Dr Mahathir’s remarks on May 9, 2025, Jaban emphasised that Sarawak’s leadership, led by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, is neither “naive nor foolish” and fully understands the structural limitations of Parliament, where Sarawak and Sabah hold only 56 of 222 seats — a mere 25% of the Dewan Rakyat.
“Out of 222 seats, Sabah has 25, Sarawak has 31. This is far below the one-third representation promised under the spirit of MA63,” Jaban said, highlighting the imbalance that undermines the states’ ability to assert their rights in Parliament.
“To bring such a critical matter to Parliament is to ask Sarawak to argue for its rights in a house where its voice has been weakened by design. This is not democracy – it is dilution.”
Jaban pointed out the irony of Dr Mahathir’s suggestion, noting that “much of the erosion of MA63 provisions took place during Dr Mahathir’s own tenure as prime minister”.
He accused the former leader of overseeing policies that centralised power and diminished Sarawak’s autonomy, making the call for a parliamentary route “hollow” given the lack of meaningful restoration during Dr Mahathir’s decades in power.
Sarawak’s leadership, Jaban asserted, is pursuing strategic channels – legal, administrative, and direct federal engagement – rather than relying on a parliamentary process stacked against them.
“MA63 is a binding international agreement that founded this nation. It’s not about negotiations or parliamentary opinions. It’s about restoring what was legally agreed upon,” he declared, referencing the 1963 treaty signed by the United Kingdom, Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore. — May 10, 2025
