KUCHING: Pantai Damai assemblyman Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail remained tight-lipped over claims that the constituency may be affected by a proposed expansion of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats.
He said he could not comment on the matter as the information circulating online has yet to be verified.
“I’m not sure. If it’s a rumour, we wait for the rumour to be verified first and make sure it is true,” he told reporters when asked about the matter.
A purported 98-slide presentation detailing a proposal to create 17 new state constituencies in Sarawak recently surfaced online.
The document claims that the number of state seats could increase from 82 to 99, following the Sarawak Legislative Assembly’s approval last year to expand the number of constituencies, subject to approval by the Malaysian Parliament.
Among the claims circulating is the possibility that Pantai Damai may be divided as part of a redelineation exercise.
Abdul Rahman, who is also Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department, said any decision on electoral boundaries falls under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission (EC).
He added that Pantai Damai currently has about 40,000 constituents.
“If they decide that Pantai Damai already has 40,000 constituents and want to cut it in half, by all means cut it in half,” he said.
Abdul Rahman also stressed that members and leaders of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) are prepared to accept any decision made through the proper process.
“We, the PBB members and PBB committee, are always ready for that,” he added.
However, the authenticity of the document remains unverified and any redelineation of electoral boundaries would need to go through the Election Commission’s formal review process in accordance with constitutional procedures.
