KUCHING: Sarawak remains firm in its push to restore its parliamentary representation to 35 per cent as negotiations with the federal government continue.
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, said the proposal has yet to secure agreement despite ongoing discussions.
She said the matter remains a key priority under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“We are still fighting for this. So far, there has been no agreement and no positive outcome yet, but we will continue to push for it,” she said.
She said this during a town hall session held in conjunction with the Malaysia MADANI Nationhood Seminar Programme with community leaders of the Kuching District at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here today (Apr 23).
Hasidah said the issue was last raised during the MA63 Implementation Action Council meeting last September, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged there was justification for increasing the number of parliamentary seats, but no agreement has been reached so far.
She said the 35 per cent representation was part of the original arrangement when Malaysia was formed, involving Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.
“When Singapore left Malaysia in 1965, its 15 parliamentary seats were absorbed into Peninsular Malaysia and not redistributed to Sabah and Sarawak,” she said.
She said this reduced the Borneo States’ representation to about 25 per cent currently, allowing Peninsular Malaysia to hold a two-thirds majority.
“This is what we want to implement to safeguard our position. Otherwise, it becomes easier for the Constitution to be amended. That is dangerous because provisions affecting our rights can be amended without our consent,” she said.
