Redelineation timely to fill up 35 pct quota

KUCHING: Sarawak needs a few more dozen seats to fill up the 35 per cent quota in the Parliament.

Commenting on the study conducted by the Election Commission (EC) on the redelineation in Sarawak, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said that the state has been anticipating for the redelineation to take place.

According to her, as it has been eight years since the last redelineation process, the move made by the EC is timely as Sarawak needs to increase its representatives in the Parliament to 35 per cent.

“Having 35 per cent representing us in the Parliament is one of the agenda in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” she said.

Sharifah Hasidah told this to the media when she attended the closing ceremony for the Saberkas Samariang branch-level Sports Carnival (KASUS) 2023 at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak here today.

Following this, she emphasised the need of the Borneo states to have a balanced number of representatives with the peninsula.

She stated that this is so that the voices from Sarawak and Sabah can be heard.

“Malaysia is established along with Sarawak and Sabah, therefore, we want to be part of any law and constitution amendments made in the Parliament.

“If we have the 35 per cent quota in the Parliament, we will have a stronger voice and representation in the Parliament.

“Any amendments made in the Federal Constitution cannot be done without Sarawak and Sabah,” she stressed.