Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali replying a question in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: The Sarawak government has submitted a proposal paper to the Federal Government seeking an increase in the number of representatives in Parliament from Sarawak and Sabah to 35%, says a Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department.
Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said two meetings on the proposal were held by the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) working committee on Aug 10 and Oct 30 at the Sarawak Federal Secretary's Office and Sabah Federal Secretary's Office, respectively.
"Any decision made at the working group level will be brought up to the technical committee meeting and subsequently be presented to the MA63 implementation action council, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister, for endorsement," she told Christopher Gira Sambang, (GPS-Tamin) during question time in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Thursday (Nov 23).
Sharifah Hasidah said the state government hoped that the proposal would be realised, to be followed by an amendment to Article 46 of the Federal Constitution.
"(This will) ensure a balanced representation in Parliament in accordance with the spirit and intention of the formation of Malaysia in 1963," she said.
Sarawak and Sabah currently have 56 seats in Parliament, or 25% of the total 222 seats.
Sharifah Hasidah also said there was no time frame for the state government's negotiations with the Federal Government to restore its rights under MA63 which had been eroded over the years.
"We have achieved successes but still a lot more has to be done and achieved.
"The state will continue to pursue and safeguard our rights under the Federal Constitution and MA63 for as long as it takes," she said.
