KUCHING: Political analyst Professor Datuk Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahman said only truly responsible individuals must be entrusted with the role of being elected representatives.
In agreeing with the move to increase DUN seats from 82 to 99, he said Sarawak’s vast area, which includes urban, rural, and deep interior areas, demands the presence of more elected representatives, especially to represent communities in remote areas.
But the selection of representatives should not be merely symbolic, he said.
“Elected representatives must internalise their responsibilities and roles in voicing the interests of the people in their respective constituencies,” he said when contacted by Sarawak Tribune on Monday (July 7).
Fadzil also emphasised that every candidate picked for the role must have an appropriate background and be respected and influential within the local community.
“If possible, the representative should come from the community itself, although this is not a requirement.
“What’s important is that the individual has the ability to guide and voice the community’s needs, and can bring meaningful change to the area,” he said.
According to him, a reporting system that is continuously monitored by the Sarawak government is crucial to assess the performance of each representative to ensure they truly carry out the responsibilities entrusted to them.
“Performance indicators to assess the effectiveness of a representative should include what has been implemented, achievements attained, new contributions to the community, and their impact on the people’s well-being,” he said.
He added that while some may feel that adding too many seats may reduce focus, it is a necessity in the context of Sarawak, which is not just based on population numbers alone but also considers Sarawak’s dispersed geography and its rapid development rate.
“This proposal is timely given that Sarawak is rapidly developing, especially with the implementation of projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway that spans the entire state, including interior areas.
“In line with this, representatives must also be sensitive in ensuring better accessibility for communities, especially in areas where schools still have to be accessed by boat and children still walk barefoot to school,” he added.
Therefore, he said that elected representatives must be the voice of those communities because what matters is not just physical development, but also the educational development of children in those areas so that they can build a better future, and in turn, improve their standard of living.
“With the addition of seats, it is hoped that no group will be left out of government policy attention because the main purpose of this increase is to ensure they are truly represented,” he said.
