Senator Abun Sui calls for new state seat between Telang Usan and Belaga
KUCHING (July 13): Senator Abun Sui Anyit hopes one of the 17 new state seats for Sarawak will be located between Telang Usan and Belaga districts.
The PKR Hulu Rajang division head said this area – home to Orang Ulu communities like the Kenyah, Kayan, Penan, Punan, and Sekapan – is vast and among the most remote and logistically challenging in Sarawak.
He explained these groups reside deep in mountainous terrain, far from administrative hubs, and are in dire need of stronger political representation to ensure their voices are heard in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and in broader government decision-making.
'If geographical factor is indeed the basis to increase state seats in Sarawak, then it is imperative that one of the new seats is established in Belaga and Telang Usan.
'Belaga district alone covers over 19,400 square kilometres (km) – larger than the combined states of Perlis (821 square km) and Melaka (1,664 square km).
'Yet, this vast district has only one DUN (state) seat (Belaga) and a small portion is in the Murum seat, which makes it extremely difficult for elected representatives to effectively serve the widely scattered rural communities there,' he said in a statement today.
He was responding to news reports quoting Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as saying the increase of state seats from 82 to 99 in Sarawak was in line with the state's geography.
On July 7, the State Legislative Assembly passed the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 to add 17 new seats.
According to Abun Sui, the Election Commission (EC) and the Sarawak government must ensure that this increase in seats is not merely symbolic or political, but truly guarantees inclusivity and justice for all ethnicities and regions, including rural areas which have been underrepresented.
'The people of Belaga district who have sacrificed a lot for the two mega hydroelectric projects — Bakun Dam and Murum Dam — have long hoped for Belaga to be upgraded to the 13th division of Sarawak. The addition of state seats should be seen as an opportunity to start taking steps towards realising this aspiration,' he added. Abun Sui Anyit belaga lead new seats state legislative assembly Telang Usan
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysiakini
5 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Anwar: Tabling FOI Bill soon, to provide clarity on govt decisions
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament later this year. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the tabling of the bill is crucial to gain public confidence and provide clarity on government decisions. 'This is an important step in...
Sinar Daily
5 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Judicial appointments announcement expected tomorrow, says PM
He acknowledged delays and public unease over certain appointments but assured that all processes have been carried out fairly and transparently. 15 Jul 2025 08:39pm Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivers the closing keynote address at the Malaysia's International Conference on Governance and Integrity 2025, today. - Photo by Bernama PUTRAJAYA - An announcement regarding judicial appointments is expected tomorrow, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. He acknowledged delays and public unease over certain appointments but assured that all processes have been carried out fairly and transparently. "This morning, I had a lengthy discussion with the Conference of Rulers. "I think let them decide and tomorrow, hopefully, there will be an announcement that would clearly dispel the so-called negative perceptions,' he said in his speech at Malaysia's International Conference on Integrity and Governance here today. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, stressed that the Madani government fully upholds judicial independence and has not interfered in any court proceedings or decisions during his tenure. "…so I rest my case, and I hope when the announcement is made, things will prove that this government is committed to reform, including the principle of judicial independence,' he added. Anwar stressed that he has never submitted any 'compromise' candidates for top judicial positions to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, or to the Conference of Rulers. "Azalina (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said) knows that, the Chief Secretary (Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar) also knows that there has never been a case where the names submitted were questioned or appeared to be compromised. Such names were never presented to the King or the Rulers "May I assure you now that in my two and a half years in office, I have not discussed with any judge (even) one case, not with the Chief Judge, not with any (of the) judges. I adhere to the principles of judicial independence,' he added. Anwar acknowledged ongoing concerns about the issue and the perception that several key judicial appointments may be compromised. "I can assure you that is not the case. I am sure my colleagues in the legal profession respect the fact that we must work based on the law and facts, not perceptions,' he said. The position of Chief Justice became vacant following the mandatory retirement of Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, who both turned 66 on July 2 and 3, respectively. The Chief Justice position became vacant after Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim reached the mandatory retirement age of 66 on 2 and 3 July, respectively. - BERNAMA More Like This
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Putrajaya PKR files report against Harakah over anti-Anwar rally
Putrajaya PKR deputy chief Shariff Jeev (third from left) and other division leaders after filing the police report at the district police headquarters. PUTRAJAYA : Putrajaya PKR has lodged a police report against PAS organ Harakah Daily over an allegedly seditious article that promotes a protest against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. At a press conference outside the district police headquarters, the division's deputy chief Shariff Jeev claimed the article contained seditious content that would incite Malaysians. 'We urge the police to investigate the article and the planned protests under Section 124B of the Penal Code (for committing an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy) or any appropriate law,' he said. When asked if he wanted the authorities to prevent the rally from going ahead, he said it should be allowed to proceed if it was held in an 'appropriate way'. Shariff nonetheless claimed that the protest planned for July 26 could become a threat to the country's peaceful way of life and its parliamentary democracy. 'So far, 52 police reports have been lodged throughout the country, including in Sabah and Sarawak. Today alone six reports were filed', he added. Putrajaya PKR information chief Hafiz Osman called for the protest to be held somewhere else instead of Dataran Merdeka to prevent it from 'spiralling out of control'. 'We do not want the protesters to provoke others. We hope the police will be able to cordon off the area.' The rally organised by Perikatan Nasional aims to push for Anwar's resignation as prime minister. Last week, over 300 rallied in Shah Alam for the same cause. The smaller rally was held to promote the Dataran Merdeka protest.
