KUCHING: The completion of Sarawak’s electoral redelineation exercise remains uncertain, with the current State Legislative Assembly (DUN) term ending by February 2027.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Election Commission (EC) is only at the first public display stage, with another round still to follow.
“I think if there is one year, it can be done. This is only the first display and there will be a second display.
“Our term ends in February. There are only a few months left, so I don’t know whether there will be enough time,” he said.
He said this when met by reporters after opening the 34th General Assembly of the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP) and World Engineering Congress at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
The EC on September 1 began displaying its proposed recommendations for the review of electoral boundaries in Sarawak, which include the creation of 17 new state constituencies.
The proposal would increase the number of state seats from the existing 82 to 99.
Among the proposed new constituencies are Jagoi, Pasir Pandak, Tudan, Samarindah and Usun Apau, while several existing constituencies are also proposed to be renamed.
Asked for the Sarawak Government’s view on the proposals, Abang Johari said the exercise is under the purview of the EC and the public should be allowed to provide feedback.
“This is the work of the Election Commission. The EC is displaying its proposals, including the names, and we will see what feedback comes from the public,” he said.
Asked about some of the proposed constituency names, Abang Johari said there was nothing unusual about them.
He cited Pasir Pandak as an example, saying it is the name of an existing village.
“The names are not strange. There are places with names such as Pasir Pandak. It does exist.
“To those who are not familiar with Pasir Pandak, there is Pasir Panjang and there is Pasir Pandak. There is indeed a village called Pasir Pandak, so there is no issue,” he said.
Abang Johari said what is important is for the EC to carry out the public display and obtain feedback from voters on the proposed changes affecting their respective areas.
The first public display of the proposed redelineation runs from September 1 to 30 at designated locations across Sarawak.
