COMMENT | Politicians from Sarawak and Sabah are pressing for one-third of parliamentary seats, up from a quarter currently. This is not a demand for equal representation, but greater over-representation, because East Malaysian voters constitute only one-sixth of the nation’s total.

Why do Sarawak and Sabah want greater malapportionment at the expense of Malayan states?

In his latest call, Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg (above) said: "Sabah and Sarawak are supposed to maintain one-third out of the 222 seats (after Singapore left Malaysia). If not, the power distribution in Parliament will be solely relying on Peninsular Malaysia".

This can be unpacked into two parts. First, history, ie, it’s the entitlement of Sarawak and Sabah promised in the formation of Malaysia. Second, check and balance, ie, East Malaysia needs veto power to prevent Malaya’s bulldozing constitutional amendments...