Sabah and Sarawak’s over-representation in the Dewan Rakyat has been of no benefit to the two states and should be abolished in the long-run, argued political scientist Wong Chin Huat.
He said such a situation only creates 'safe deposits' for the BN, making regime change unlikely.
Contrariwise, he said, East Malaysia would benefit from a Parliament where Malaysians are equally represented, as it would lead to greater competition for Putrajaya.
And all political parties would be forced to strike better deals for the electorate.
“What we really need in Sabah and Sarawak is decentralisation, not a increase in seats. Seat increase is the wrong prescription and a bad substitute for decentralisation,” Wong told a seminar in Petaling Jaya today.
He added that decentralisation should also include substantial power and fiscal autonomy for the states, elected municipal governments, and an “elected and empowered” Senate, where one-third of seats are set aside for Sabah and Sarawak with some seats reserved for the Orang Asli.
[More to follow]
He said such a situation only creates 'safe deposits' for the BN, making regime change unlikely.
Contrariwise, he said, East Malaysia would benefit from a Parliament where Malaysians are equally represented, as it would lead to greater competition for Putrajaya.
And all political parties would be forced to strike better deals for the electorate.
“What we really need in Sabah and Sarawak is decentralisation, not a increase in seats. Seat increase is the wrong prescription and a bad substitute for decentralisation,” Wong told a seminar in Petaling Jaya today.
He added that decentralisation should also include substantial power and fiscal autonomy for the states, elected municipal governments, and an “elected and empowered” Senate, where one-third of seats are set aside for Sabah and Sarawak with some seats reserved for the Orang Asli.
[More to follow]
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