SAPP: Sabah should push for more MP seats

KOTA KINABALU - The Sabah Government would lose a golden opportunity to redress the Sabah (and Sarawak) political imbalance vis a vis the federal government if Sabah fails to push for an increase in the number of parliamentary seats for Sabah under the ongoing review of electoral boundaries, says Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee.

"There are now 25 MP seats in Sabah, an increase of 9 from the original 16 MP seats in 1963 (or 56.2% increase). In Sarawak, there are now 31 MP seats, an increase of 7 from its 1963 number of 24 (up 29.1%). But in Malaysia as a whole, the number of MPs for Peninsula Malaysia has increased disproportionately by 59.6%. This is partly the result of Malaya taking over Singapore's quota of MP seats after Singapore left Malaysia in 1965.

Yong said that when Malaysia was formed in 1963, 34.6% of the MP seats in Parliament were allocated to Sabah/Sarawak/Singapore as a safeguard against any amendment to the federal constitution that adversely affects Sabah/Sarawak/Singapore.  Sabah originally had 16 MPs, Sarawak (24 MPs) and Singapore (15 MPs).

"It is an old contention that after Singapore left Malaysia, the 15 MPs seats (belonging to Singapore) should have been shared only with Sabah and Sarawak. Instead, the Singapore MP seats were taken up by Peninsula Malaysia. Currently, Sabah and Sarawak MPs (excluding Labuan FT) constitute only 22% of parliament.

"It is time now to create enough MP seats to be allocated to Sabah and Sarawak so that Sabah and Sarawak can reclaim their share of MPs seats that was first allocated in 1963.

"To do this, our Sabah MPs of all political affiliations should move a motion in Parliament to create more MP seats for Sabah and Sarawak. The Sabah/Sarawak governments should also take up this matter with the Election Commission and the Menteri Besar/Chief Ministers Conference. Similarly, our Sabah and Sarawak ministers in the federal cabinet should take up this matter in the federal cabinet," Yong told.

He said as for the creation of new state seats in Sabah, it is entirely a matter for the Sabah government and the Sabah Legislative Assembly. The main concern is to make sure that the new seats are created to cater to the real needs of local people, to fit in the district administration and to preserve community ties. It would be a shame if the new seats are created along political lines to the benefit some political parties in a move called "gerrymandering".