Kota Kinabalu: Warisan’s candidate for the Kepayan lawyer Chin Tek Ming said the Federal Government’s decision to approve an increase in parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak must genuinely reflect Sabah’s population growth and development needs.
He said any additional seats must also consider implementation mechanisms and how the seats will be allocated.
“This must be carried out fairly, transparently, and with the interests of Sabahans placed first,” he stressed.
Chin said increasing parliamentary seats for both East Malaysian states is not only in line with the spirit of the Malaysian Federation, but also an important step in upholding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and strengthening East Malaysia’s voice in national policymaking.
“Of course, our long-term goal is to restore one-third of parliamentary seats to East Malaysia, ensuring that our voices — especially Sabah’s — are clearly heard.”
He made the remarks while campaigning and meeting voters of various communities in the Kepayan constituency.
Chin was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement that the Unity Government had agreed, in principle, to increase the number of seats in Sabah and Sarawak, though it had not committed to restoring the historical one-third share.
Chin also urged the Election Commission to ensure that any redelineation process is impartial, free from political influence, and reflects Sabah’s multicultural demographics and geographical diversity.
He noted that Sabah’s population has grown at a rate higher than the national average over the past few decades, with increasing economic and development needs, yet the state’s parliamentary seats have not been adjusted accordingly.
“This has resulted in significant disparities, where the average population per Sabah constituency is far higher than in some seats in Peninsular Malaysia, creating an imbalance in representation.”
“Sabah does not need symbolic promises. We need real empowerment — one that strengthens our role and influence in national decision-making.”
