Speaker: Dewan Rakyat will discuss Sabah, Sarawak seat quota if proposed
KUCHING: The Dewan Rakyat is prepared to deliberate on any possible move for a one-third orr 35 per cent parliamentary seat quota for Sabah and Sarawak.
However, this must first be proposed by the executive arm of government.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said that, so far, he has not received any motion regarding the matter.
He said, the matter — which remains at the policy level — must be initiated by the executive by submitting a motion for it to be discussed by all members of parliament.
"This matter, I leave to the executive because I am merely the speaker who facilitates the debate.
"If there is a proposal (for discussion among MPs), it is up to them, as whatever is debated in Parliament is ultimately the decision of the executive. However, to date, I have not received such a motion," he said.
Johari said this to reporters after opening the Women Parliamentarians' Meeting (Waipa) at the 45th General Assembly of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (Aipa) which was launched by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg today.
On April 13, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof had proposed that negotiations to amend the one-third or 35 per cent parliamentary seat quota for Sabah and Sarawak should be held face-to-face, particularly with each MP from Peninsular Malaysia.
Fadillah said this approach was previously adopted by current Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, when he served as minister in the prime minister's department (parliament and law), in efforts to amend Article 160 of the Federal Constitution.
He said the demand for more parliamentary seats is quite complex and challenging, as it requires negotiations not only at the ministerial and agency levels but, more importantly, from a political perspective — engaging with each MP to gain support and explain why such an amendment is necessary.
Currently, MPs from Peninsular Malaysia, including the Federal Territories, hold 75 per cent or 161 out of 222 seats, while Sarawak holds 31 and Sabah 25.
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