KUCHING: Sarawak could hold its next state election with 99 seats, but only if electoral boundary revisions are approved before the DUN is dissolved.
Political sociologist Professor Dr Novel Lyndon said it remains legally and administratively possible for the proposed 17 new state constituencies to be used in the coming Sarawak election, although the timeline is increasingly tight.
He said the Election Commission (EC) began displaying its proposed electoral boundaries on Sept 1, with the public objection period running until Sept 30.
“If valid objections are received, the EC must conduct local inquiries and may need to revise and display the proposal again,” he said.
Novel explained that the EC’s final recommendations must also complete the federal approval process before the new electoral boundaries can legally take effect.
With the next Sarawak election required to be held by April 2027, he said the deciding factor will be whether all procedural requirements are completed before the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) is dissolved.
“If the DUN is dissolved before the new boundaries are legally approved and brought into force, the election will most likely have to use the existing 82 seats,” he said.
He added that contesting all 99 seats in the coming election is realistic, but not guaranteed.
From a political sociology perspective, Novel stressed that the redelineation exercise should not be rushed merely to accommodate the electoral calendar.
“People must be given enough opportunity to understand and challenge the proposed boundaries. Public confidence depends not only on whether the process is legal, but also on whether it is seen as fair, transparent and free from political manipulation,” he said.
Beyond the legal process, Novel believes the proposed expansion from 82 to 99 seats is likely to reinforce Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) political dominance in the short term.
Under a 99-seat DUN, a coalition would require at least 50 seats to form a simple majority and 66 seats for a two-thirds majority.
He said GPS enters the exercise with significant advantages, including its extensive grassroots machinery, established party network and control of most existing constituencies.
“If GPS wins most of the new constituencies, its position could become even stronger,” he said.
However, he warned that the additional seats could also create fresh challenges within the ruling coalition, particularly over how the new constituencies are distributed among component parties PBB, SUPP, PRS and PDP.
“Disagreements over seat allocation and candidate selection could create dissatisfaction among component parties and local leaders,” he said.
Novel added that the new constituencies also present an opportunity to improve representation for rural communities, rapidly growing urban centres, women and younger political leaders.
He noted that a larger legislative assembly would not automatically guarantee political stability, especially if no coalition secures the 50 seats needed to govern.
In such a scenario, smaller parties and independent representatives could emerge as kingmakers, making coalition negotiations more complex.
“Therefore, a 99-seat DUN will not automatically guarantee political stability. Its effect will depend on the election results, cooperation among coalition partners, the credibility of candidates and whether the new constituencies genuinely improve representation,” he said.
Novel said the success of the proposed expansion should ultimately be judged not by which party gains the greatest advantage, but by whether it delivers fairer representation, reduces the workload of elected representatives and brings government services closer to rural, interior and rapidly developing urban communities.
