THE Sarawak government has submitted its proposal for the number of MPs from the state to be increased to 35% of the Dewan Rakyat.

Deputy Law, Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and State-Federal Relations Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said the proposal was submitted to Putrajaya, followed by several meetings.

This included two meetings by a working committee to discuss legislative amendments related to the implementation of the MA63, which were held at the Sarawak Federal Secretary Office (FSO) on August 10 and the Sabah FSO on October 30.

“Any decision made by the working committee will be brought up to the technical committee and subsequently to the Majlis Tindakan Pelaksanaan Perjanjian MA63, which will be chaired by the prime minister, for the committee’s endorsement,” she said.

She was replying to a supplementary question from Christopher Gira Sambang (Tamin-GPS) at the Sarawak assembly sitting today.

Sharifah Hasidah said the committee’s endorsement would pave the way for article 46 of the Federal Constitution, which touches on the composition of the Dewan Rakyat members, to be amended.

Thirty-one MPs, or nearly 14% of the 222-member Dewan Rakyat, are from Sarawak. – Bernama, November 23, 2023.