Sabah to raise issue of additional state seats at next Parliament sitting

By Olivia Miwil, Izham Unnip Abdullah - December 13, 2018 @ 4:08pm

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah government will bring the issue on 13 additional state constituency seats during next parliament sitting, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

In August 2016, the state government had passed a bill which will see the state seats being increased to 73 with parliament’s approval.

“The issue was raised during state assembly sitting recently and the cabinet discussed it in details,” he said at a press conference after witnessing Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) handing over RM7 million loan repayment to state government’s representatives.

Mohd Shafie said the Election Commission (EC) and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be informed so that the matter could be brought to the next parliamentary sitting.

He said when the Bill was passed two years ago, EC had brought it to the attention of the then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak but it was not tabled in the parliament.

He said there was no one except the parliament that has the say on whether to accept or reject the Bill.

Meanwhile, on the Mining Ordinance (Amendment) 2018 which was approved at the state Legislative Assembly sitting, Mohd Shafie said clear interpretation of laws were necessary for the benefit of the state especially when it was related to oil and gas.

He said the amendment was crucial to prevent arguments in the future especially when it involved government and investors for mining.

“As mining also involves investors’ land, it will also involve oil and gas.

“It is important for us to manage it well, so that there will be no overlap in terms of laws,” he said.