PETALING JAYA – Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) is looking to set up a committee to study the possibility of increasing the number of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak.
Its premier, Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, said the committee will do a thorough study before making any proposals to the Election Commission (EC).
“The application to increase the number of constituencies will be in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“We will look into increasing the number not only in Betong, but throughout the state,” he said after opening the PBB special convention 2023 (Betong zone) yesterday.
Abang Johari said this in response to a resolution passed during the convention to increase the number of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak by at least 12, with three new seats under the Betong zone.
“Our application to the EC is also aligned with the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) report, which stated the importance of Sabah and Sarawak’s voice in the Dewan Rakyat.
During the convention, PBB vice president Datuk Julaihi Narawi, when reading out the resolutions, said PBB Betong Zone had proposed that the number of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak be increased to allow Sarawak and Sabah to have one-third of the total number of parliamentary seats in Malaysia.
At present, 166 (or 75%) of the 222 parliament seats are in Peninsular Malaysia, while the remaining 25%, or 56 seats, are in Sarawak (31) and Sabah (25).
Earlier in his speech, Abang Johari pledged that PBB will continue fighting for Sarawak’s rights.
He also urged the people to remain united in their fight and make Sarawak a leading region in the country.
“If anyone touches our rights or laws, we will fight back and defend our rights. This has been our struggle for the last few years and will be for the next 60 years to come,” he said. – The Vibes, October 9, 2023
