By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Sept 26: The Election Commission’s (EC) statement that there is currently no proposal to increase Sarawak’s parliamentary seats does not contradict the federal government’s in-principle decision to increase Sabah and Sarawak’s representation under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the difference was simply a matter of where the proposal currently stood in the approval process.
“The federal government has decided. But if the number of seats is to be increased, how many will be added? That is for the federal government because it involves Parliament,” he said during a press conference after officiating at the Sarawakku Sayang Programme in Betong today, which was broadcast live by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) on Facebook.
Abang Johari said the matter must first be brought to Parliament before the EC could begin the formal process of determining the new constituencies and their boundaries.
“It has to be brought to Parliament first. There is a process. Just like now, the (State constituency) boundaries are displayed and rearranged, and the proposed boundaries are shown.
“After that, if there are objections, they will be displayed again. It follows the process,” he explained.
His remarks came a day after the EC said there was currently no proposal to increase the number of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak, following a report claiming the State could see an additional 15 federal seats.
The EC said yesterday that the only redelineation exercise currently under way was the Seventh Sarawak Electoral Constituency Redelineation Review, involving the proposed increase of Sarawak Legislative Assembly seats from 82 to 99.
Abang Johari, however, said the EC’s position was expected because the parliamentary process had yet to reach the commission.
“That is why the EC chairman said they have not received it — because the process has not started.
“Like in the State, once it has been approved by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, only then does the process begin. This has not yet been approved by Parliament, so we have to wait for Parliament,” he said.
He stressed that there was no need to rush the process as long as the proper procedures were followed.
“What I am concerned about is that the message is different. From what I read today, the message is different. That makes it seem a little contradictory.
“But in my view, there is no contradiction. There is no contradiction,” he stated. — DayakDaily
