Baru pushes East M'sian MPs in PN to lobby for one-third Parliament seats
Selangau MP Baru Bian today urged his fellow East Malaysian MPs in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to lobby for a one-third representation in the Dewan Rakyat.
Baru (above) said his own constituency is almost the size of Peninsular Malaysia's largest state and dividing them up would allow the people to be served better.
Selangau MP Baru Bian today urged his fellow East Malaysian MPs in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to lobby for a one-third representation in the Dewan Rakyat.
Baru (above) said his own constituency is almost the size of Peninsular Malaysia's largest state and dividing them up would allow the people to be served better.
"Sarawak is huge and there are many constituencies that are larger than the states in Peninsular Malaysia.
"For example, my constituency of Selangau is almost as large as Pahang but it is mostly connected through logging roads, rivers and trekking routes.
"The increase in the number of Parliament seats will ensure the people's welfare and improve national integration," the PSB lawmaker said.
Pahang has an estimated population of around 50 times more than that of Selangau.
However, the sheer size of some sparsely populated areas makes it a challenge for MPs to manage.
Proponents of the one-third-plus-one-seat representation have also argued that this is to prevent Peninsular Malaysia from imposing on East Malaysia.
This is because such an arrangement will deny Peninsular Malaysia a two-third majority to unilaterally amend the Federal Constitution.
At present, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan make up 57 seats in the 222-member Parliament, representing slightly more than a quarter in the House.
"I urge all MPs in Sabah and Sarawak who are in the PN government to together pursue 34 percent of parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak," he said.
Baru won the Selangau seat on a PKR ticket but had since joined PSB.
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