I’M honestly puzzled, bewildered even. Why the uproar over the proposal to expand Sarawak’s State Legislative Assembly (DUN)? Why are some quarters so quick to twist it into a political plot?
They say it’s about consolidating power. They claim it’s meant to favour rural areas. Some even suggest it’s about gerrymandering.
But have they stepped foot in our rural interiors? Do they know what it takes to serve communities scattered across rivers, forests and mountains?
Sarawak isn’t Kuala Lumpur. You can’t drive across a constituency in 15 minutes here.
Some elected representatives need days to reach the furthest corners of their areas. And many of these places still lack proper roads, clean water and stable electricity.
So why are we applying urban logic to a very different landscape?
Sarawak is massive. Over 124,000 square kilometres. That’s roughly larger than the whole of Peninsular Malaysia.
Yet we’re expected to run a state assembly with about the same number of seats as much smaller states. How is that fair? How is that practical?
More DUN seats mean smaller constituencies. That means elected reps can do their jobs better. They can listen, respond and plan more effectively.
They can serve communities that are otherwise left waiting. That’s not politics. That’s basic governance.
Delivering where it matters
The Sarawak Government has consistently prioritised rural areas that others have long overlooked. While some parties talk, the state has focused on building real infrastructure.
It has invested heavily in roads, electricity, bridges, clinics and water supply systems for communities once completely cut off. This record is not based on promises but on completed and ongoing projects.
Examples include state-funded initiatives like the Coastal Road Network, the Second Trunk Road, and numerous bridges connecting villages to towns.
These are not federal projects. They are driven and funded by Sarawak’s resources with a clear rural-first development approach.
Year after year, the state budgets reflect this rural focus – not as a political tactic but because that is where the greatest need lies.
It is about correcting decades of historical neglect and making sure longhouses, fishing villages, and farming communities are not forgotten. Critics claim the rural bias is unfair. But those rural areas have been left behind for too long.
The real problem lies in a population-based funding formula still used across much of Malaysia.
Development budgets are tied to population numbers, not the real difficulty of providing services. This Malaya-centric way of thinking has consistently disadvantaged Sarawak.
It costs more to build a clinic in Long San than in Shah Alam. Delivering services to Lusong Laku takes far longer than to Subang Jaya. But the current formula ignores these realities. It simply counts heads, not needs.
As a result, when Parliament and Putrajaya allocate funds, Sarawak often receives less, not because it lacks needs but because it lacks population numbers.
This is the core challenge. And this is why better representation matters. It is not about creating more political positions.
It is about making sure every community has a voice in the assembly. Someone who understands their challenges. Someone who can fight for their fair share.
You can’t have it both ways
Let’s clear up one major misconception. The Sarawak Government doesn’t redraw boundaries or increase seat numbers on its own. That power lies with the Election Commission (EC).
The state can propose. It can make a case. But the process of redelineation belongs to the EC. And the EC is not a Sarawak body. It is a federal agency, governed by federal laws and appointed by the federal government.
So, if you don’t trust the EC, then you don’t trust the very system you are part of. You can’t celebrate EC decisions when they benefit you and then cry foul when they don’t.
Some of the loudest voices opposing DUN expansion are the same ones calling for Sarawak to have more seats in Parliament. But that’s not how the system works.
A parliamentary seat cannot exist without a state base. The number of parliamentary seats is linked to the number of state constituencies.
So, if you block DUN expansion, you are also blocking Sarawak’s chances of having more say in federal matters.
You can’t have it both ways. You can’t want more power in KL while rejecting the steps needed to get there.
Want a stronger voice in Parliament? Then support a stronger assembly here at home.
Fairness looks different in Sarawak
Let’s talk about fairness because the word gets thrown around a lot by those who don’t understand our context.
They say it’s not fair that some rural constituencies have fewer voters than urban ones. They talk about “one person, one vote” like it’s a universal rule.
But fairness isn’t always about identical treatment. Sometimes fairness means doing more for those who have less.
Serving 100,000 people in a city with roads, Internet, and infrastructure is not the same as serving 10,000 people scattered across the jungle and river.
One requires a press conference or Facebook live. The other needs a four-wheel drive, a longboat and sometimes a helicopter.
Critics look at a map and see numbers. We look at that same map and see mountains, rivers, floods and broken bridges. That’s the real Sarawak.
The job of an urban YB and a rural YB is not the same. So why are we pretending it is?
Redelineation has happened in every state. It’s part of democracy. It’s part of growth. Why should Sarawak be the exception?
Expanding the DUN doesn’t weaken democracy. It strengthens it. It gives more people a voice. It brings the government closer to the people. And it allows every corner of Sarawak to have a seat at the table.
So again, why the fear?
This isn’t about entrenching political power. It’s about improving service. It’s about giving every Sarawakian a say – whether they live in Kuching or Kanowit, Sibu or Sungai Asap.
It’s time we stop seeing Sarawak through someone else’s lens. Let’s shape policies grounded in our realities and stop seeking permission to be treated with the fairness we deserve.
Because if we don’t speak for ourselves, who will?
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at nazmixsuhaimi@gmail.com.
