World · Malaysia Bureau
Sabah, Sarawak seat increase plan enters technical discussion phase
A government-backed entity has begun talks with Malaysia's election commission on mechanisms to boost parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak. The discussions focus on legal and technical aspects of a proposed seat allocation increase.
LSN Malaysia ·
BHESS, a government think tank, has initiated formal discussions with the Election Commission (SPR) regarding procedures to increase the number of parliamentary seats allocated to Sabah and Sarawak, according to officials involved in the process.
Mustapha Sakmud, a key figure in the discussions, indicated that talks held on the day focused on examining the legal frameworks and technical requirements needed to implement the proposal. The plan under consideration would raise the combined seat allocation to 35 percent of Parliament's total composition.
The move represents efforts to enhance the electoral representation of Malaysia's two largest East Malaysian states, which have historically held lower proportional representation in the federal legislature relative to their population and size.
No timeline for completing the discussions was provided. The proposal would require navigating constitutional procedures and electoral system modifications, explaining the focus on technical and legal groundwork at this stage. SPR's involvement indicates the plan has progressed beyond preliminary consultation to formal consideration of implementation pathways.