KOTA KINABALU: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Sabah and Sarawak), Mustapha Sakmud, has put forward a compelling proposal to split the Sepanggar Parliamentary constituency into two separate constituencies should Sabah’s parliamentary representation be expanded.
Mustapha, who is the Member of Parliament for Sepanggar, stressed that this division is justified given the constituency’s substantial voter population, which currently stands at approximately 130,000 constituents.
“Parliament requires expansion. Sepanggar presents an ideal candidate for division because it boasts the largest parliamentary electorate, with 130,000 voters.
“If we establish two parliamentary seats, Sepanggar would secure two additional allocations,” he explained.
He made these remarks during the Mooncake Festival celebration marking Malaysia Day at Kolombong Plaza, near here on Saturday night.
Nevertheless, any creation of new parliamentary boundaries must undergo the delimitation process and follow the established procedures set by the Election Commission, while modifications to the composition of the Dewan Rakyat require constitutional procedures, he said.
Mustapha previously informed the Dewan Rakyat that the Election Commission has been tasked with examining the matter of increasing parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak.
Mustapha emphasised that the increase in parliamentary seats must be understood within the broader context of Sabah and Sarawak’s position during Malaysia’s formation and the demands related to MA63.
“The fundamental principle is that Sabah and Sarawak should hold one-third of parliamentary seats. Currently, the other side holds two-thirds.
“We are asserting our rightful claims and require an increase. We want Malaysia to endure indefinitely,” he stated.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on September 11 that the government has agreed in principle to enhance the representation ratio of Sabah and Sarawak in the Dewan Rakyat beyond current levels.
However, the specific number of seats and the implementation mechanism still require discussion with the Election Commission.
The government has also confirmed that the matter of increasing parliamentary representatives from Sabah and Sarawak was deliberated during the MA63 Implementation Action Council Meeting (MTPMA63).
Mustapha emphasised that his responsibility is to advance the ongoing resolution process concerning MA63-related matters.
Subsequently, when addressing the media, Mustapha announced his intention to convene with the Election Commission’s Chairman the following Tuesday, where he plans to deliberate on the particulars surrounding the government’s strategic initiative to expand parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak.
