SARAWAK Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar has dismissed allegations of gerrymandering raised by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong.
Asfia stressed that redelineation matters fall entirely under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission (EC), not the Sarawak government or the DUN.
According to him, only the EC has the power to review and draw electoral boundaries, as outlined in Articles 113(2)(ii), 116, 117, and the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
“This is my ruling. If you go against this, I will stop you because it is unconstitutional.
“Rural weightage is given and recognised by the Federal Constitution. Regard has been given to that. You are going on your own, fraudulently, on a fraudulent course of your own, against the Constitution,” said Asfia firmly in the august House today (Jul 7).
Earlier, Yong had questioned the proposed increase in DUN seats, accusing the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) of manipulating the process for political gain.
She alleged that new seats were being added only in areas favourable to GPS, ignoring constituencies with higher voter populations.
“Let’s call it what it is: GPS is adding new seats only where it can win, not where they’re actually needed based on voter numbers. This is gerrymandering dressed up as reform,” she said while debating the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025.
Asfia ruled her statement as unconstitutional and warned that further debate on the issue would be stopped immediately.
