Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has agreed in principle to consider increasing the number of parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak, says deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof.
Fadillah said legal issues must first be resolved. “There are differing views between the state attorneys-general of Sabah and Sarawak and the federal attorney-general,” he said.
The matter would go to the Cabinet once the legal questions are settled, he said in Kuching after a meeting of the technical committee on implementing the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“The prime minister said the matter can be considered in principle, but it will require further negotiations and detailed study,” the Borneo Post reported him as saying.
Fadillah said the composition of parliamentary seats falls under federal jurisdiction and any changes must be approved by Parliament with a two-thirds majority.
When asked if Sarawak’s recent decision to increase the size of its state assembly will factor into the proposal, Fadillah said once a policy decision is made, the Election Commission will conduct its own study to determine the number and location of seats.
Fadillah said the proposal was among four key items discussed today, along with judicial appointments, tourism and authority on environmental matters.
He said the government also agreed to amend the Federal Constitution to allow the governors of Sabah and Sarawak to endorse the appointment of judicial commissioners in both states.
He also said amendments to the constitution, enabling Sabah and Sarawak to regulate scheduled waste, are expected to be tabled in December.
