Former MP laments challenges in getting East Malaysia’s one-third representation in Parliament

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 28): Sabah and Sarawak have yet to achieve one-third representation in the Dewan Rakyat because each time the two request for additional parliamentary seats, the other states in Peninsular Malaysia would also demand for more constituencies.

In voicing this out, former Putatan MP Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh called for those in Peninsular Malaysia to be reminded that it took over the seats previously allocated to Singapore, prior to its separation from Malaysia in 1965; and did not share those seats with Sabah and Sarawak.

“We have raised this issue repeatedly for decades,” he said.

“I remember that apart from myself, the late Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Panglima Bung Moktar Radin, was also very vocal about this.

Yet our voices fell on deaf ears,” he said in a statement.

In this regard, Marcus urged the current Sabah government, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, to continue pressing for this matter to be realised.

“The matter has been raised many times, but there’s no harm in continuing to bring it up in Cabinet, and to the federal government,” he pointed out.

Marcus warned that as long as the one-third representation of Sabah and Sarawak in Dewan Rakyat remained to be achieved, the decision-making power would remain skewed towards the peninsula.

He also suggested that parliamentary constituencies in Sabah be divided based on racial composition to ensure that all communities would be represented, and no group would be left behind.

“In places like Membakut, for example, the Kadazans have complained about being neglected by their MP, who is not a Kadazan.

“In Sipitang, the Lundayeh community is also unrepresented; likewise, the Rungus community in Kudat,” he said.

He further proposed for constituencies with vast land mass such as Penampang and Kinabatangan, as well as Hulu Rajang in Sarawak, to have more than one parliamentary representative.

“Malaysia’s smallest state, Melaka, has a total land area of just 1,650 square kilometres, but is represented by six MPs.

“In contrast, Kinabatangan – the largest parliamentary constituency in Sabah, and the third largest in Malaysia – covers more than 18,000 square kilometres, but is represented by only one MP.

“This is a major challenge facing Sabah MPs who seek to promote growth and development in their constituencies.”

Citing more examples, Marcus said in Melaka, the six parliamentarians would each receive funding to develop their constituencies.

“But in Kinabatangan, represented by only one MP, there is only a single allocation.

“Is that fair? Of course it isn’t.

“That is why many of our areas remain underdeveloped and our people continue to live in hardship, because our vast constituencies receive limited funding and attention.”

Marcus said another challenge was the feeling of neglect by the constituents.

“Their representatives cannot give sufficient attention to their areas.

“In Kinabatangan, the MP must travel for days along rough roads, crossing rivers and reaching some locations only on foot – this is not an easy task.

“The situation faced by MPs in Sabah and Sarawak cannot be compared to that of MPs in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said, adding that the situation was even more pronounced in Sarawak.

Citing Hulu Rajang as one example, he said the constituency covering more than 34,000 square kilometres, was represented by only one MP.

“How can one member of Parliament effectively look after such a vast area, which is larger than several states in Peninsular Malaysia?” he pointed out.