KOTA KINABALU: Additional parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak are an important step in respecting the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), says Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (pic).
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs said this decision is vital in ensuring that both Bornean states have a bigger voice in policymaking and other plans for the nation’s future.
He said the decision is not just about adding seats for Sabah and Sarawak but about balancing the representation ratio in Parliament so that any discussions on the direction of the country, especially involving the two states, can be properly deliberated on.
Mustapha said this in a statement yesterday, welcoming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement on the matter last Friday.
Anwar had said the Election Commission will study how to work out the seat increase mechanism and other related issues before presenting them for tabling at the Cabinet and subsequently to Parliament for the voting.
He also urged Malaysians, especially the youth, to understand the history behind the formation of the federation of Malaysia so that they can truly appreciate this independence enjoyed by the nation.
Mustapha said it was vital for all Malaysians to have a sense of pride and patriotism towards the country so that they may strive to make it 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.
