KUCHING: A clear formula needs to be discussed to determine the allocation of parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said top federal and state leadership must deliberate on how to properly formulate the representation framework.
She noted that while the matter has yet to be comprehensively tabled or discussed, leaders have raised concerns, focusing primarily on state seats rather than parliamentary constituencies.
“We have raised the matter, and even in discussions within the Cabinet alongside partner leaders like Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, we primarily focused on state seats rather than parliamentary constituencies.
“The one-third parliamentary seat ratio was originally designated before Singapore’s departure from Malaysia. When Singapore left, that one-third share was left vacant.
“As discussed by the prime minister, the Premier of Sarawak, and the chief minister of Sabah, they need to set the proper ratio for seat allocation, rather than just focusing on the raw number of seats,” she said.
Nancy said this when met by reporters after officiating the Motivation and Guidance Programme for Study and Career Opportunities and Calculator Handover at SMK Bako here today (Sept 26).
She was alluding to a statement from the Election Commission (EC) which denied reports claiming that the number of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak will be increased to a specific number.
It said there is currently no proposal to increase the number of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak, including any constituencies purportedly linked to discussions on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Moreover, she added that specific details on seat formulas under the MA63 have yet to be addressed comprehensively, as leaders await a finalised structure.
“We need to discuss this together in terms of the law. We have not touched on this before.
“Once the MA63 meeting shifts its focus to this matter, we will look into the formula for the seat ratio,” she stated.
Regarding concerns over 17 state seats, Nancy confirmed that Sarawak MPs and Cabinet members have actively brought the issue to light within the federal executive body.
When asked if ongoing MA63 discussions would impact the current agreement with the federal government, she reassured that detailed discussions are ongoing between the Prime Minister, the Premier of Sarawak, and the Chief Minister of Sabah through the Cabinet.
“They will discuss this in detail, as I recall the Prime Minister mentioning that it does not affect the number of seats, but rather the seat ratio.
“We just need to figure out how to establish a clear framework to set that ratio,” she added.
