KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) leaders have expressed disappointment after the Election Commission’s draft electoral redelineation excluded Sri Aman from the proposed 17 new state constituencies despite its vast geographical size.
PRS Information Chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan questioned why the proposed Bukit Kelingkang state constituency had not been included, saying the party had previously put forward the proposal for consideration.
He said the omission was particularly notable given the size and geographical challenges faced by Sri Aman, which comprises three existing state constituencies, namely Balai Ringin, Bukit Begunan and Simanggang.
“We would very much like the proposed Bukit Kelingkang seat to be included,” said Snowdan in a statement today (Aug 8).
Snowdan, who is also Balai Ringin assemblyman and Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Art, said the proposed constituency was not merely a political demand, but one based on practical considerations including population size and composition, geographical practicality, accessibility, connectivity and administrative efficiency.
He also questioned why Sri Aman, including areas adjoining Lubok Antu, appeared to have been overlooked in the proposed expansion of the state legislative assembly.
Meanwhile, Sri Aman Member of Parliament and PRS Women Chief Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie said she was deeply disappointed if reports on the proposed new DUN seats were accurate.
She maintained that Sri Aman had a strong case for an additional state constituency, proposed to be known as Bukit Kelingkang.
“This is not merely a political request but a genuine necessity based on geography, accessibility and the needs of the people,” she said.
Doris said the Sri Aman parliamentary constituency covered approximately 685,224 acres, comprising Balai Ringin with 340,017 acres, Bukit Begunan with 261,685 acres and Simanggang with 83,522 acres.
She said its vast geographical area, coupled with approximately 900 longhouses and settlements spread across rural, riverine and hilly terrain, presented a fundamentally different constituency management challenge compared with more densely populated areas.
“The size of the constituency has significantly increased the responsibilities of elected representatives in coordinating development, engaging with communities and ensuring effective service delivery,” she said.
Doris said many communities remained geographically dispersed, while rural and interior areas continued to require better road connectivity, treated water supply, electricity, telecommunications and other basic amenities.
She argued that the proposed Bukit Kelingkang seat would allow elected representatives to serve communities more effectively and ensure development needs were not overlooked because of the constituency’s sheer size.
“The creation of a new DUN seat would bring the government closer to the people by improving access to elected representatives, strengthening grassroots engagement, enhancing the monitoring of development projects and ensuring public services are delivered more efficiently,” she said.
Doris also stressed that electoral redelineation should not be viewed solely through the lens of population numbers.
She said geographical size, accessibility and development needs should also be given due consideration, particularly in a state such as Sarawak where rural constituencies can cover vast areas with communities separated by rivers, hills and long distances.
The proposed Bukit Kelingkang seat, she said, would therefore reflect the need for a more balanced representation of communities across the Sri Aman parliamentary constituency.
