KUCHING: The federal government must show the political will that it is prepared and ready to implement the decision of the Special Council on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to restore the 35 per cent parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah, said Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How.
He noted that all political parties, particularly the national parties whether they are component parties in the federal government or the opposition, had all responded enthusiastically towards the decision of the Special Council of MA63 but is questioning their genuinity.
“How genuine are they, in giving 35 per cent parliamentary seats to Sarawak and Sabah?
“Or is it due to political expediency and they voice their backing to lure the support of voters in the two East Malaysian states for their political survival?,” See said in a statement yesterday.
He added that the competing alliance and political parties must make use of the coming parliament sitting to reveal their plans and strategies to cause the necessary constitutional amendments to give effect to the 35 per cent parliamentary seats to Sarawak and Sabah, and their timeline for the Election Commission to initiate and carry out the parliamentary constituency re-delineation exercise.
“The number of elected members and the constituency delineation exercises are governed by the Federal Constitution, particularly Articles 46 and 113, and the Thirteenth Schedule annexed to the Federal Constitution.
“We cannot have more than 222 elected members in the House of Representative unless Article 46 is amended, and it is the provision of Article 113 that the reviews of constituency delineation can only be completed with an interval of not less than 8 years from the last review.
“As the last re-delineation of electoral boundary of parliamentary constituencies was completed in 2018, the Election Commission can only present the next review of the redelineation exercise in 2026.
“It is therefore clear that the election and composition of 35 per cent parliamentarians from Sarawak and Sabah in the Malaysian Parliament will not happen before 2026,” he said.
However, See said it would give the Parliament and the Election Commission sufficient time to prepare and be ready to complete the tasks before the following parliamentary election which may be in 2027 or 2028.
He further said that the understanding of the constitutional provisions and their effects on the implementation of the proposal to give 35 per cent parliamentary seats to Sabah and Sarawak is most crucial.
“We do not want the aspiring political parties and candidates to court our Sarawakian and Sabahan votes by giving empty promises in this coming general election which will be held soon.
“We should not compromise with these political parties and coalitions to cause delay in initiating the re-delineation exercise, and therefore the implementation of it.
“We must therefore demand a clear time-line from the parties and candidates from both political fronts and divides,” he said.
Commenting further, he said with the 35 per cent of elected members within the composition of the Malaysian Parliament is one of the most crucial safeguards in restoring Sarawak and Sabah’s autonomy and special rights and privileges.
“The federal government must show the political will, urgency and commitments to implement this decision of the Special Council on MA63 which will only augur well to reflect the unique constitutional federalism that our country and the founding parents had aspired,” he said.
