Quota for elected Dewan Negara members can be increased, says speaker
Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar says the quota can be bumped up from two individuals to three per state.
The government can increase the quota for senate members elected from each state from two to three, if there is a need, says Dewan Negara speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
Wan Junaidi said under Article 45 (1)(a) of the Federal Constitution, the senate would consist of two members elected from each state, but that the number could be increased.
"It depends on the government... currently, we have two for each state making the total number of those elected 26, while 44 are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"... we can have another one elected member... like the House of Lords in England, UK – at one time the number was 1,800 (senators)... there is no problem if the number is increased," he said after an event in Kuala Lumpur last night.
He was commenting on the proposal by several parties for the quota for elected senate members representing the states to be increased to strengthen the role of the Dewan Negara.
Wan Junaidi was appointed as Dewan Negara president on June 19.
Subscribe to our newsletter
To be updated with all the latest news and analyses daily.
