MUKAH: Tellian assemblyman Royston Valentine has clarified that Sarawak’s increase in State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats from 82 to 99 does not automatically translate into an increase in parliamentary seats.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth information chief said the two matters involved separate processes and were subject to different mechanisms and jurisdictions.
“DUN seats are not photocopy machines. Adding one DUN seat does not automatically mean that one parliamentary seat will be created.
“If it were that simple, every state would have long increased its parliamentary seats according to its own wishes,” he said in a news report by UKAS during a visit to the Tellian DUN Delineation Exhibition at the Galeria, Mukah District Office, here on Thursday (Sept 10).
Royston was responding to a recent statement by Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (DAPSY) Sarawak organising secretary Chong Hong Hien, who called on Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to explain why Sarawak had not gained additional parliamentary seats despite the increase in state constituencies.
In the statement, Chong said the Election Commission’s latest delineation exercise had exposed what he described as a contradiction in GPS’ previous argument that increasing the number of DUN seats was necessary to pave the way for greater parliamentary representation.
He said GPS lawmakers had repeatedly made the argument during debates in the State Legislative Assembly last year, but Sarawak’s parliamentary representation remained unchanged following the latest delineation exercise.
Chong subsequently called on GPS to take a clear position on the delineation exercise and explain why parliamentary seats had not increased.
Responding to the issue, Royston said the increase in DUN seats should instead be viewed in the context of Sarawak’s geographical size, development and unique challenges.
He said the additional state seats were intended to strengthen representation and ensure more effective service delivery to the people.
He explained that any increase in parliamentary seats was a separate process requiring an amendment to the Federal Constitution and majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.
Royston said the distinction between the two processes needed to be clearly understood so that discussions on constituency delineation would not create confusion among the public.
He also stressed that GPS remained committed to safeguarding Sarawak’s interests and rights through constitutional and legal channels, as well as negotiations at the federal level.
“This included efforts related to restoring Sarawak’s one third share of parliamentary seats,” he said.
