MIRI – Both Sabah and Sarawak need to be given more seats in Parliament to ensure sufficient space to highlight the plight of the people in East Malaysia, Muda said today.
Muda Sarawak’s pro tem committee said Malaysia’s two largest states currently account for 56 seats or just a quarter of the 222 seats in Parliament.
“The two should have at least 35% of the total number…having more representation in Parliament will help to address the many issues and problems facing the rakyat in Sarawak,” the committee said in a statement.
Last week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili said the federal attorney-general is studying the call by Borneo MPs to increase Sabah and Sarawak’s representation in Parliament to a third of its seats.
Former Miri mayor Datuk Lawrence Lai said the federal government should expedite the creation of new parliamentary constituencies in both states to reflect their status as equal partners under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Lai said the latest electoral statistics in Sarawak have shown a surge in the number of new voters, which would justify a redelineation exercise that could be completed before national polls are called. – The Vibes, March 22, 2022
