THE state government will continue to push for the return of the 35 per cent of the 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat for Sarawak and Sabah, said Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
The Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Office (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations) said this is to ensure a balanced representation in tandem with the original spirit and purpose of the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
She said the state government had proposed to the previous federal government for the number of members of parliament (MPs) for Sabah and Sarawak to be increased to 35 percent.
“This matter was presented to the Majlis Khas Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MKMA63) during its meeting on Sept 8 last year. Through this meeting, it had been agreed that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) at that time bring up this proposal to the federal cabinet meeting.
“However, on Oct 10 last year Parliament was dissolved to make way for the 15th general election (GE15). After the establishment of the new federal government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, he agreed to improve the existing platform by replacing the previous committee MKMA63 with the Majlis Tindakan Pelaksanaan Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (MTPMA63),” she said.
She replying to Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang during question time on the fourth day of the 19th State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Sharifah Hasidah said the first meeting of MTPMA63 was held on Jan 20 this year.
Through this meeting, it was proposed that a working committee chaired by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal and Institutional Reform) be created to continue discussions on the matter.
“This committee was established to obtain a policy decision since the matter will involve amendments to the Federal Constitution.
“It is pertinent to note that the matter has also been conveyed to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as he was appointed to oversee all matters on this for the federal side,” she added.
