KUCHING: Sarawak can proceed with its next state election using the existing 82 seats if the proposed expansion to 99 seats cannot be finalised in time.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he had no issue with either scenario, as the timeframe to implement the additional seats was tight.
“If it is 82, then 82. If it is 99, then 99. There is no problem.
“It does not necessarily mean that we have to use 99 seats for the election. If there is not enough time and the window is very tight, what can you do?
“We just follow the present one. There is no problem,” he told a press conference here today (Aug 10).
Abang Johari was responding to a question on the proposed increase in the number of Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats.
The DUN approved an increase of 17 seats in July last year, bringing the total from 82 to 99.
However, the proposed new seats must undergo the necessary electoral boundary review process, raising questions over whether they can be implemented in time for the next state election, expected by the end of this year or early 2027.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri had reportedly raised the matter at the federal Cabinet together with Works Minister and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
Following this, Unity Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had expressed his commitment to the proposed redelineation exercise and requested the Election Commission (EC) to provide an update on the matter.
