KUCHING: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has called on the Election Commission (EC) to expedite the redelineation process in light of the planned increase in the number of seats in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
The expansion from 82 seats to 99, he noted, is intended to improve representation across the state.
However, the redelineation process must first be carried out by the EC before the new constituencies can come to fruition.
Under the Federal Constitution, once the EC completes the redelineation exercise, which includes the publication of proposals, public objections and local inquiries, the final report must be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat for approval.
Yap said there is now increasing public interest in whether the next state election will only be held after the additional 17 seats are formally gazetted.
“Many Sarawakians are asking whether this has already become an informal consensus among political circles, or whether the timing of the election will ultimately be decided independently of the completion of the redelineation process,” he said.
He added that if the redelineation report is tabled and approved in a forthcoming parliamentary sitting, the public would also want to know how long the administrative procedures will take before the new constituencies are officially gazetted and operational.
“These timelines will inevitably influence speculation about whether the next Sarawak state election is likely to take place later in the year or only after the new seats are fully in force,” he said.
Yap emphasised that voters are also concerned about fair and effective representation, noting that the additional seats were intended to ensure the growing population in Sarawak receive better representation in the DUN.
“Clear timelines and transparent procedures will help avoid speculation and ensure that the expansion of representation in Sarawak proceeds in an orderly, constitutional and fair manner,” he said.
Yap added that ensuring the constitutional steps are properly completed will strengthen public trust in the electoral system and democratic institutions.
“The people of Sarawak deserve clarity, certainty and confidence in the electoral process that determines their representation,” he said.
