35pct seats for East Malaysia? Still early days, says law minister

 

Putrajaya was still in the very preliminary stages of discussions on the prospect of increasing the number of parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak to 35 percent of the total parliamentary seats.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the proposal cannot be implemented before the next general election.

"The decision in principle to increase Sarawak and Sabah representatives in the Dewan Rakyat was made by the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 Council and we are just in the process of preparing the cabinet papers for the cabinet decision and deliberation.

"Only after cabinet decides would we know the scope and parameter of the MA63 Council's proposal be determined.

"Before the cabinet papers are drawn, we have to engage Sarawak and Sabah governments on the proportionate number increase to be proposed.

"We also have to discuss with the Election Commission, being the commission responsible for the election and overseeing the process," said Wan Junaidi, who is also Santubong MP. "Still a lot of work to be done."

Wan Junaidi said this when asked how Putrajaya intend to fulfil the proposal by the MA63 council.

The council was of the opinion that Peninsular Malaysia should have no more than two-thirds of the parliamentary seats to reflect the arrangement when Malaysia was formed.

At present, Sabah and Sarawak are hosts to only 25 percent of the parliamentary seats.

Sarawak and Sabah are due to have their electoral boundaries redrawn in 2023 and 2025 respectively.

For Peninsular Malaysia, the exercise can only take place in 2026.

On Sept 8, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob voiced approval for the MA63 council's proposals, which also included proposals on healthcare and the economy. - Mkini