DARO assemblyman Safiee Ahmad said the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill 2025 is an administrative necessity to strengthen the state’s executive machinery, rather than a political move.
He said Sarawak’s rapid growth and expanding responsibilities demand a government structure capable of keeping pace with development, implementation and public expectations.
“Do we want an executive that struggles to keep up, or an executive strong enough to lead Sarawak to its next era of growth?,” he asked, noting that the state is undergoing transformative changes across multiple sectors.
He said this when debating in support of the Bill at the DUN sitting here Monday (Nov 24).
Safiee pointed out that Sarawak is experiencing economic diversification into hydrogen, digital economy and high-value industries, alongside massive infrastructure expansion, social development demands, increasing administrative complexity under MA63, and global shifts in digitalisation and artificial intelligence.
Safiee added that these realities require an agile, responsive and adequately staffed government structure.
He said the current system is increasingly stretched, especially with ministers holding two to three portfolios, making effective oversight and execution challenging.
“With the expansion of state constituencies from 82 to 99, it is timely to ensure the executive branch can function efficiently and remain people-centric,” he added.
Safiee noted that expanding the Cabinet would allow for more focused responsibilities, better policy implementation and greater representation in decision-making, particularly as Sarawak moves towards its development goals under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
He emphasised that without strengthening the executive structure, the state risks lagging behind and placing the burden on the rakyat.
“This move is not a political luxury, but an administrative necessity,” he said.
Safiee expressed firm support for the Bill, saying it would help build a stronger, more capable and future-ready Sarawak, especially in ensuring equitable development reaches all corners of the state, including Daro.
