KOTA KINABALU (Oct 2): Parti Warisan (Warisan) on Wednesday expressed its commitment to supporting any proposal for the redelineation of electoral boundaries in Sabah if it is brought to Parliament.

Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal emphasised that the size and number of voters in certain constituencies in Sabah are crucial factors in the proposal to add new parliamentary seats in the state.

Using Kinabatangan and Lahad Datu as examples, Mohd Shafie pointed out that their areas are larger than the state of Perlis, but only have one Member of Parliament, compared to Perlis which has three.

“The addition of parliamentary seats in Sabah is necessary to ensure effectiveness in serving the people,” the Semporna MP told the media here on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that Sabah proposed the addition of parliamentary seats in the state and Sarawak to meet the 35% quota of the total parliamentary seats in the country, in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

This issue was also raised by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg recently.

Currently, Sabah and Sarawak have a combined total of 56 parliamentary seats, with 31 in Sarawak and 25 in Sabah.

This represents only 25%, compared to the 74 parliamentary seats that both states should have to fulfill the 35% quota as stipulated in MA63, meaning an additional 18 seats would be needed.

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