KUCHING: The allocation of 35 percent of seats in the Parliament would fulfil the requirement as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) said Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman.
In welcoming the endorsement of the Special Council on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MKMA63) for the restoration of the ratio of the seats, he said it will it is imperative for the status of Sarawak and Sabah to be restored after the departure of Singapore in 1965 from the federation.
“I welcome this new development in regards to our pursuit of having one-third representation from Sarawak and Sabah in the federal Parliament, as part of the fulfilment of the MA63.
“This, to me, is important in terms of power sharing between the parties that form the Malaysia federation where Sarawak and Sabah must have a say in the laws that are being passed in Parliament,” he said in a statement today.
Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the issue was deliberated on and endorsed at the 5th meeting of the Special Council chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in Putrajaya yesterday.
Fazzrudin, who is chief political secretary to the Premier said this was part of the nation’s electoral reform that must be undertaken and pointed out that this was proposed by Sarawak to the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) a few years ago.
“Currently, West Malaysia controls 75 per cent or 166 of the parliamentary seats out of 222, which is more than two-thirds.
“It is our view that this must change to respect the voice and views of Sarawak and Sabah and avoid laws that are detrimental to the Borneo states from being passed,” he added.
He said the Federal Constitution, must represent the interests of all parties in the federation and any amendments that are being passed in Parliament, must get the support of both Sarawak and Sabah.
He also urged the Election Commission (EC) to understand the need to original proportion of MP seats for Sabah and Sarawak to be restored and take further action under Article 113 of the Federal Constitution.
“Redelineation of electoral boundaries must be undertaken to carve out more seats in both Sarawak and Sabah as there are some constituencies that are underrepresented given its vast size,” he added.
He said geographical factors and the distribution of natives must be taken into account as the allocation of seats should not be devised on population alone.
