By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Nov 23: The Sarawak government had submitted a proposal paper to the federal government to increase the number of representatives from Sarawak and Sabah in Dewan Rakyat up to 35 per cent.
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said meetings on this proposal, namely Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kerja Bagi Membincangkan Cadangan Pindaan Perundangan Berkaitan Pelaksanaan Perjanjian Malaysia, were held on Aug 10 and Oct 30, 2023 at the Sarawak Federal Secretary Office and Sabah Federal Secretary Office, respectively.
“Any decision made at the Working Group level will be brought up to the Technical Committee Meeting, and subsequently be presented to the Majlis Tindakan Pelaksanaan Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 which will be chaired by the Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the Committee’s endorsement,” she said.
She was replying to a question from Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang regarding current status of the negotiation on the 35 per cent representation in parliament.
She added that Sarawak government also hopes that the proposal to increase the number of representatives from Sarawak and Sabah will be realised and endorsed by the Committee.
“Thereafter the amendment to Article 46 of the Federal Constitution to be passed, to ensure a balance representation in the Dewan Rakyat, in accordance with the spirit and the intention of the formation of Malaysia in 1963,” she added. — DayakDaily
