By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 16: The federal government cannot commit to granting Sarawak and Sabah one-third parliamentary representation, but has agreed in principle to increase the number of seats of both States, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a report published by the New Straits Times, he said the increase of parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah has already been adopted as a policy by the unity government.
“There is no commitment to increasing the number to one-third representation for Sabah and Sarawak. However, we are committed to increasing the parliamentary seats. As a matter of policy, we must increase them. It is up to the Election Commission to decide the number of additional seats.
“For Sabah and Sarawak, I have made the decision and informed the Cabinet that we will increase the number of seats. I have instructed the State legal advisers in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the Attorney-General, to resolve the matter, and the principle of increasing parliamentary seats has already become policy,” he was quoted as saying.
He said this in response to questions on meeting calls by leaders in Sarawak and Sabah for greater representation in Parliament.
The seat increase is part of ongoing negotiations regarding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Sabah currently has 25 parliamentary seats while Sarawak has 31. — DayakDaily
