KOTA KINABALU: Additional parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak is an important step in respecting the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), says Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) said this will give both Bornean states a bigger voice in policy-making and other plans for the nation’s future.
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He said this is not just about adding seats but about balancing the ratio of representation in Parliament so that any discussions on the country's direction, especially involving the Bornean states, can be properly deliberated.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday (Sept 11) that the Federal Government has agreed in principle to increase Sabah and Sarawak's representation in Parliament to better reflect the spirit behind the formation of Malaysia.
In a statement on Monday (Sept 14) welcoming the announcement, Mustapha said the Election Commission will study the seat increase mechanism and other related issues, before presenting it to the Cabinet and then for tabling in Parliament.
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On a related matter, he urged Malaysians, especially youths, to understand the history behind the formation of the federation of Malaysia so that they can truly appreciate its independence.
Mustapha said it was vital for all Malaysians to have a sense of pride and patriotism so that they will strive to make the nation better for future generations.
"The peace and harmony we have been enjoying can only continue to be enjoyed along with progress if we preserve this unity that we have fought so hard to attain," he added.
