Sarawak DUN passes Bill to increase state seats from 82 to 99

Borneo Post

2 days ago

Abdul Karim, who tabled the Bill, speaks during the debate session of the sitting. – Penerangan photo
KUCHING (July 7): The Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 has been passed during a special sitting of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) at the DUN Complex today, paving the way for an increase in the number of state constituencies from 82 to 99.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who tabled the Bill, said the expansion is vital to reflect Sarawak's evolving demographic landscape, rapid urban development, and growing calls for equitable representation.
'The DUN must remain dynamic and responsive to the demographic shift and development, and to the growing demand for more equitable representation.
'This is not merely a matter of numbers. It is about ensuring that Sarawakians are well represented and well served. It is a constitutional exercise done in the spirit of justice,' he added in his winding up speech.
The Bill, which will repeal the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Ordinance, 2014, received overwhelming support from the House, with 80 of the 82 elected representatives voting in favour.
Once gazetted, the new composition will take effect on a date to be determined by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri and is expected to be implemented in the next state election.
'The Election Commission (EC) will subsequently undertake a redelineation exercise to define the 17 new constituencies,' he said.
Abdul Karim also clarified that the delineation of electoral boundaries remains the sole responsibility of the EC, an independent body appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in consultation with the Conference of Rulers.
He thus described allegations of gerrymandering by certain Opposition members as 'slanderous and demeaning' to the impartiality of the EC.
'The state government or this august House has no say whatsoever on where the delineation of the new 17 seats will be. The EC is the only body empowered to do so under Article 113 of the Federal Constitution,' he said.
Opposition members from Pending and Padungan had raised concerns about the timing and financial implications of the seat increase, claiming it to be politically motivated.
Abdul Karim dismissed these claims, asserting that the expansion aligns with federal and state constitutional provisions and is long overdue, given that the last redelineation was conducted a decade ago in 2015.
He also drew a comparison with a recent move by the Welsh Parliament, which increased its constituencies from 60 to 96 which is a 60 per cent rise. In contrast, Sarawak's proposed increase of 20 per cent is both reasonable and necessary, he said.
'Sarawak is about six times the size of Wales, and our populations are comparable which is 2.9 million here versus 3.16 million in Wales.
'If they saw fit to increase their representation, there is no reason why Sarawak should not do the same,' he said.
Speaking to reporters after the sitting, Abdul Karim expressed confidence that the move would eventually facilitate an increase in parliamentary seats for Sarawak; part of the state's long-standing demand for greater representation in the Dewan Rakyat, in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
'With this increase in state seats, if Parliament were to consider increasing the number of parliamentary constituencies later, it would be easier for the EC to align the federal and state delineation processes,' he said.
Today's sitting saw 31 elected representatives participate in the debate, with the Bill's passage marking another chapter in Sarawak's constitutional evolution to strengthen representation.
'We are doing this to ensure Sarawak continues to move forward fairly, inclusively, and in accordance with the Constitution,' he said.