KUCHING: Several steps must be completed before the proposal to increase Sarawak and Sabah’s representation in the Dewan Rakyat can be realised.

Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said the process required agreement on the formula and number of seats, followed by amendments to the Federal Constitution and a redelineation exercise by the Election Commission (EC).

“For parliamentary representation, the next steps are to reach an agreement between the Federal Government, Sarawak and Sabah on the formula and number of seats, prepare a Constitutional Amendment Bill for Parliament’s approval, and subsequently carry out redelineation by the Election Commission,” she said.

She was responding to a question from Bukit Assek Assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek during the during the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here on Tuesday.

Datuk Sharifah added that allocating one-third of parliamentary seats to Sarawak and Sabah was a constitutional safeguard intended to maintain the balance within the Federation.

When Malaysia was formed in 1963, Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore collectively held 55 of the 159 parliamentary seats, representing approximately one-third of the total.

However, following Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965, the proportion was not redistributed.

Currently, Sarawak and Sabah hold 31 and 25 seats respectively out of the 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, accounting for approximately 25 per cent of the total. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Grace John Lee
Photo: Hazrin Sunaini
Translator: Uilson Ng