KUCHING: Calls are growing for Parliament to treat the proposed addition of new state seats in Sarawak as a matter of urgency following its approval in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.
Political observers say the move to increase the number of state constituencies is crucial to ensure fairer representation, particularly in view of Sarawak’s vast geographical size and growing population.
Political pundit Datuk Peter Minos has questioned what he described as the slow pace of approval at the federal level, urging both the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) and Parliament to expedite the necessary constitutional amendments.
“The Sarawak state legislative assembly (DUN) has done its statutory part. By constitutional arrangement, the above must go through Parliament and the relevant part of the constitution must be amended. If not the increase of seats will not be legitimate.
“Parliament may delay the sitting empanelment due to some other urgent national issues. Otherwise, there should not be unnecessary delays.”
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu veteran believed that the additional state seats are important to Sarawak, saying Sarawak’s unique demographic and geographical challenges warranted greater representation in the state assembly.
He noted that Sarawak is huge with scattered rural population and so the more there are state seats and assemblymen, the better it is for the for the people because government services too are extended to the rural people.
“My view is that Sarawak wants the new seats be federally approved at Parliament and be used for the coming State Election.
“As we all know, the state election may likely be held between June and August this year, which is not too far away from now, there are a lot of things need to be done by the EC before the new seats can be contested for election.
“Aside from that, police and other agencies also have to be ready and prepared. So Parliament cannot delay. It must approve it all by May the latest.”
Minos predicted, if approved and put into effect, most if not all of the new seats will go to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which will mean greater power and greater influence for the ruling local coalition.
He also expressed hope that Members of Parliament across the political divide would support the amendments in the interest of national unity and balanced regional development.
Observers note that once approved by Parliament, the redelineation process could pave the way for the new seats to be in place before the next state election, further reshaping Sarawak’s political landscape.
The Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 was passed during a special sitting of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) in July, 2025, paving the way for an increase in the number of state constituencies from 82 to 99.
