KOTA KINABALU: Despite having held the position of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office for Sabah and Sarawak affairs for less than a year, Datuk Mustapha Sakmud has already demonstrated impressive results, particularly in championing the rights and interests of Sabah and Sarawak.
Regarded as a leader of few words who remains accessible to the people, the Sepanggar Member of Parliament has proven remarkably successful in forging a new path forward for Sabah and Sarawak through concrete action.
Among his most significant achievements is his instrumental role in negotiations that secured an increase in Sabah’s Special Grant to RM1.5 billion annually beginning in 2026, with an equivalent allocation granted to Sarawak.
Bintulu Port has also been transferred through legislation, transitioning from federal port status to state port authority under the full jurisdiction of the Sarawak Government, effective September 1, 2026.
Furthermore, the Federal Government has agreed in principle to amend the Constitution to increase parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, thereby enhancing the representation ratio of both states in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
In what many consider a pivotal moment, Mustapha has now taken the initiative to make a courtesy visit to Dato’ Sri Ramlan bin Dato’ Harun, Chairman of the Election Commission (SPR), as an opening step toward realizing his mission to increase parliamentary representation.
Mustapha stated that the visit (on Tuesday) aimed, among others, to deliberate on the strategic direction and implementation framework for the proposed increase in the number of Members of Parliament from Sabah and Sarawak.
He explained that the meeting followed developments at the Federal Government level, including the MTPMA63 Meeting on September 11th, which acknowledged that this matter had been discussed in the Cabinet Meeting.
“The Prime Minister also affirmed that there is merit in enhancing the proportional representation of Members of Parliament from Sabah and Sarawak, contingent upon further consultation with the Election Commission,” Mustapha stated.
According to him, Sabah and Sarawak currently hold 56 seats, representing 25.3 percent of the total Parliament.
“The proposal put forward is to increase this to 35 percent, bringing it into balance with the seat allocation in Peninsular Malaysia,” he explained.
Mustapha noted that discussions with the Election Commission Chairman concentrated on procedural matters and constitutional, legal, and technical considerations, encompassing electoral boundary delineation, required data, and collaborative governance between the Government, Election Commission, and stakeholders.
“This is not merely about adding seats. It concerns strengthening Sabah and Sarawak’s position and voice in Parliament in alignment with Malaysia’s founding principles and the implementation of MA63,” he emphasized.
Mustapha affirmed that his ministry will continue collaborating with the Election Commission to ensure all subsequent actions are executed systematically, in accordance with the Federal Constitution and applicable laws, while respecting the Election Commission’s jurisdiction.
