The federal government has been urged to honour Sarawak’s rightful allocation of one-third of parliamentary seats as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Opar assemblyman Billy Sujang stressed that this is not merely a demand but a right grounded in historical agreements.
In an exclusive interview with Sarawak Tribune, he elaborated on the issue.
SARAWAK TRIBUNE: What is meant by Sarawak’s demand to obtain one-third of the parliamentary seats?
Billy: The parliamentary seats is not what we ask, let alone demand, it is under the MA63. Which, to make it simple, it is our right.
SARAWAK TRIBUNE: What are the positive effects if Sarawak is given the one-third parliamentary seats?
Billy: Well, of course the amount of our MP would be much more, and the coverage of the constituency would be larger. Because at the moment, we only have 31 seats here, so if they give us the one-third seats that would be huge.
SARAWAK TRIBUNE: Are there any challenges or obstacles that might prevent the Sarawak’s demand from being realised?
BILLY: There might be a few challenges that prevent Sarawak’s demand from being realised. That said, we hope that Sarawak government will continue to demand for the one-third seats from the federal government.
SARAWAK TRIBUNE: What are the next steps that the state government can take to realise this demand?
BILLY: Personally, it is very simple. We continue to demand under the MA63. We just want the federal government to give Sarawak the implementation of it. Plus other aspect stipulated in the MA63 have not been fulfilled yet, namely health and education.
