Give feedback on move to increase state seats
Published on: Thursday, August 11, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Political and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as the public have been urged to make full use of the one-month grace period to give their feedback on the move to increase State constituencies from 60 to 73 which was passed by the State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said they should take advantage of the opportunity not only to give their comments but also suggestions, recommendations and constructive objections to the amendment so that these can be considered and looked into by the Election Commission (EC)."After this amendment has been passed at the State Legislative Assembly, the EC would be informed and it would be their responsibility to carry out the necessary surveys and measurements for the re-delineation exercise.
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"At the same time, the EC will get feedback and comments from the public on the boundaries of the State seats. "So this is the time political leaders and civil society members can voice their comments, including objections and suggestions, to improve the creation of the new State seats under the re-delineation exercise before EC brings the amendment of having an additional 13 new State seats to the Parliament to be approved," he said.Speaking to Daily Express, Pairin, who is Tambunan Assemblyman, said the public can also use social media and the print media to express their comments.To a question, Pairin, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, said he believed that the number of new State seats to be created can be questioned as it could be more or less.
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Nonetheless, he said what he gathered from the political viewpoint is that 13 new State seats is a reasonable figure.Pairin, who also agreed to the amendment on increasing the number of State seats, said he hoped the creation of new seats would not be based on certain races, which is tantamount to narrow- mindedness, as Sabah has a multiracial society living harmoniously and in peace.
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Furthermore, he said Sabah is a good model to others and it is the duty of elected representatives to serve their constituencies irrespective of the people's race, culture and religious beliefs.Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Datuk Teo Chee Kang said it is timely to increase the number of State seats in view of the last re-delineation exercise being in 2003, over 13 years ago, and that the needs of the people and growth in population as well as the development of the State requires more seats, so that the people of Sabah can be better served by the elected representatives."We have just passed the amendment Bill to increase the number of seats from 60 to 73 and based on the votes for the amendment, the Assembly members from the Opposition also support the move.It shows the maturity among the Assembly members including from the Opposition who also see the need to increase the number of State seats for the betterment of the State and the people," he said.Teo, who is also Tanjong Kapor Assemblyman cum Special Tasks Minister, reiterated that LDP will seek more seats to contest in the coming general election as a result of the approved amendment Bill."We feel that as a local-based component party in Sabah, we need more representation so that the voices of people in Sabah can be heard even clearer at the Federal level."So, when we are in the process of claiming for State rights which was even debated in the House, the YBs from BN and opposition actually are in unison in our will and intention to get what we have bargained for in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and it is time for a reality check on whether all that have been promised to us have been fulfilled," he said.Sabah Gerakan, meanwhile, lauded the passing of the Bill to raise the number of constituencies from 60 to 73."The increase is long overdue, timely and appropriate in view that the last delineation exercise being more than 10 years ago," said the party's Liaison Chief Datuk Gordon Leong."The constituency increment will enable elected representatives to be more focused in serving the public since the size of the constituency would be smaller," he said.With the increase in the number of State seats, Leong said the party hoped some of the new seats would be allocated to them for the forthcoming GE14.In the GE13, he said Gerakan won their two seats allocated to them under the BN umbrella.An opposition local-based party, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) also welcomed the additional seats to be contested in the coming general election.Its Committee on Electoral Boundary Delineation Chairman, Japiril Suhaimin, said an increase of 13 elected representatives will definitely benefit the rakyat and reduce the workloads of the wakil rakyat and allow for better focus in serving the people in their respective constituencies."SAPP hopes the 13 new State seats will be divided equally according to size of the area and not divided to benefit certain BN parties, especially Umno. "We also hope that the re-delineation exercise would not be established based on race or religion. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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