KUCHING: It is high time to increase the number of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak to maintain a balance and allow Sarawak and Sabah to have one-third representation in the Dewan Rakyat.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth chief Miro Simuh said it is necessary to increase or return one-third of Dewan Rakyat seats to Sabah and Sarawak as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He said that currently, 75 per cent or 166 seats out of the total 222 parliamentary seats are in Peninsular Malaysia while Sarawak (31) and Sabah (25) holds the remaining 56 seats.
“This does not really represent or reflect the needs on the ground as some seats have nearly 100,000 voters; and it’s a huge burden for any elected representatives to serve such an area with a high number of voters,” the Serembu assemblyman said when contacted by New Sarawak Tribune.
“So, the PBB Youth strongly supports the proposal to increase the parliamentary seats in Sarawak and we hope the federal government will look into it. We need to start working on it now,” he added.
On Sunday, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) will set up a committee to deliberate and put forward a proposal to increase the number of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak.
The proposal is in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and would be forwarded to the Election Commission.
Abang Johari said the application was also in line with the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report, which clearly stated the importance of Sabah and Sarawak having equitable representation in the Dewan Rakyat.
It was one of the nine resolutions from Betong Zone party members, which was presented by PBB vice-president Datuk Julaihi Narawi.
The party had resolved for at least 12 new parliamentary constituencies to be created in Sarawak including three in the Betong Zone.
