KUCHING: Kota Sentosa assemblyman, Wilfred Yap Yau Sin has dismissed recent claims by Chong Chieng Jen as “misleading”, saying the narrative on electoral delineation ignores Malaysia’s constitutional framework and institutional processes.
Yap said the appointment of members to the Election Commission of Malaysia is governed under Article 114 of the Federal Constitution, where appointments are made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister, following consultation with the Conference of Rulers.
He noted that the current Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, leads the federal government, stressing that it is therefore inaccurate to suggest that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) or Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has control over the Election Commission or the redelineation process.
“As such, any insinuation that GPS or SUPP is ‘managing’ or ‘manipulating’ the Election Commission is baseless and disregards the actual constitutional chain of responsibility,” he said in a statement.
On claims of gerrymandering, Yap argued that differences in voter size between urban and rural constituencies should not be viewed purely through numerical comparisons.
He said electoral boundaries in Sarawak are determined by multiple factors, including geography, accessibility and the need to ensure effective representation across vast rural areas, adding that simplifying the issue risks distorting the broader context.
Yap also rejected assertions that changes in seat allocation over time are evidence of manipulation, noting that such adjustments are influenced by demographic shifts, administrative considerations and electoral competitiveness.
“The core issue remains one of balanced and fair representation, taking into account Sarawak’s unique geography and dispersed population,” he said.
He urged Chong and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak to refrain from personal attacks and instead engage constructively within constitutional frameworks.
Yap further called for bipartisan cooperation on Sarawak’s long-standing push for one-third parliamentary representation, in line with the safeguards under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“As an Anak Sarawak, this is not a partisan issue but a fundamental right that requires collective commitment and sincere cooperation from all leaders,” he added.
