KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Bukit Goram Division Chairman, Andy Lawrence, has defended Sarawak’s proposed constituency delineation.
He was responding to Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak Chairman and Stampin Member of Parliament, Chong Chieng Jen, who argued that disparities in voter numbers between urban and rural constituencies undermine electoral fairness and weaken democratic equality.
Chong pointed out that some urban constituencies have about 70,000 voters compared to roughly 11,000 in certain rural seats, saying such imbalances give disproportionate weight to rural votes.
He maintained that any redelineation exercise should prioritise equal voter representation to ensure each vote carries similar value across constituencies.
However, Andy said fairness in Sarawak cannot be measured by numbers alone, given the state’s vast geography and uneven development landscape.
He noted that Kuching Division already has the highest number of State Legislative Assembly seats – more than 10 – despite being the smallest and most developed region in the state.
“In contrast, divisions like Kapit Division and Limbang Division cover vast territories, face difficult geographical conditions, and remain less developed,” he said in a statement today (Apr 23).
Andy argued that adjusting representation strictly based on voter population could further marginalise rural Sarawak.
“This is not fairness; this is imbalance in another form,” he said.
He stressed that representation in Sarawak must consider geography, accessibility and development gaps to ensure communities in remote areas continue to have an effective voice.
Andy also questioned whether DAP was overlooking rural interests in raising objections to the proposal, adding that delineation should remain balanced not only numerically but in practical realities across the state.
