KUCHING: The Federal Attorney General’s Chambers would undertake a comprehensive legal review of the interpretation of ‘safeguards’ as outlined in the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report 1962 with regards to the proposed increase in parliamentary representations for Sarawak and Sabah to 35 per cent.

Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this was decided at the recent Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) meeting this year.

According to him, further discussions will be conducted with the Attorney General’s Chambers of Sabah and Sarawak to assess and formulate the necessary policy positions within the applicable legal frameworks.

“The Sarawak Government has proposed to increase the parliamentary representation for Sarawak and Sabah to 35 per cent as enshrined under IGC 1962 to uphold the principles of MA63.

“Rest assured that we will continue to pursue the implementation of this matter as it is our right.

“We are adamant with this proposal to reaffirm and uphold Sarawak’s rightful place and representation as stipulated in the IGC,” he said during his ministerial winding-up session at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah urged for more federal funding to upgrade Sarawak’s education and healthcare infrastructure.

He stressed that many schools, teachers’ quarters and healthcare facilities such as clinics and hospitals are in poor conditions.

These facilities require greater federal allocation to modernise, improve and upgrade the quality of education and healthcare facilities as well as services, he said.

“These are Federal Government responsibility. Thus, these requests must be considered by the Federal Government to ensure a better quality of life for all Sarawakians,” he added. -UKASnews