Latest news with #Undi18
Borneo Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Pending rep slams DUN seat hike as 'politically motivated, unfair'
Yong debating the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 at the special DUN sitting today – Roystein Emmor photo KUCHING (July 7) The proposal to increase the number of elected representatives in the State Legislative Assembly from 82 to 99 is 'not only untimely, but unfair, unnecessary and politically motivated,' said Violet Yong (DAP-Pending). Yong argued that the move fails to address pressing issues faced by the rakyat, such as high cost of living, poor infrastructure and lack of basic amenities. 'At a time when many Sarawakians are struggling with the rising cost of living, inadequate roads, no electricity, no clean water supply, and poor access to basic services, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has chosen to prioritise adding more politicians instead of addressing the people's real needs,' she said during the debate on Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 today. Yong further questioned the justification for the increase, noting that while voter numbers had grown significantly due to automatic voter registration and Undi18, the surge was concentrated in urban and semi-urban areas. 'But does this justify a sudden 20 per cent jump in state seats? The answer is a resounding no, because the increase in voters is not evenly spread 'It is concentrated in urban and semi-urban areas, where people are migrating for jobs, education, and opportunities. Yet, this Bill does absolutely nothing to address their underrepresentation,' she said. Yong accused the government of manipulating the system under the guise of 'representation,' claiming that the proposal 'once again favours rural areas' rather than redrawing boundaries to reflect demographic realities, a move she called illogical and unfair. She also raised concerns about unequal voter representation across constituencies. 'In my own constituency, Pending, there are nearly 30,000 voters. Gedong, a rural seat, has less than 10,000. Yet both elect one ADUN (state assemblyperson),' she said. Yong claimed the seat expansion was politically driven, noting that during the redelineation exercise in 2015, most new seats went to Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), a pattern she believes is likely to repeat. '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. She also warned of the financial burden, saying millions would be spent on salaries, facilities and operations while many rural communities still lack clean water and electricity. Yong concluded by questioning the silence of Sarawak's GPS federal ministers on the matter and called for more meaningful reforms. 'What have our five federal ministers from Sarawak GPS done in Parliament to fight for more parliamentary seats for Sarawak? Why is there no visible push from them to demand what is rightfully ours?' she asked. lead redelineation seats state legislative assemb;y violet yong
Borneo Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Murum, Bukit Assek reps support more seats for fairer representation
Chukpai (left) and Chieng debating the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 at the State Legislative Assembly today. – Penerangan photo KUCHING (July 7): Increasing the number of seats in the State Legislative Assembly is essential to strengthen rural representation and keep pace with the state's growing electorate, said Kennedy Chukpai Ugon (GPS-Murum). Debating the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025, Chukpai said the proposed increase from 82 to 99 elected members would help correct long-standing imbalances between urban and rural constituencies. 'Historically, rural communities have struggled to have their voices heard. By expanding the assembly, we can close that gap and enable more equitable development across the state,' he said. Chukpai pointed out that many rural areas remain vast, isolated, and underrepresented despite being rich in natural resources and cultural heritage. He said expanding the assembly would provide a clearer platform for local issues to reach the legislative floor. 'More representatives mean better access for remote communities to the policy-making process. This leads to more grounded, community-focused development—something we've long needed in interior areas,' he added. Chukpai also highlighted how national policy reforms, such as lowering the voting age to 18 and implementing automatic voter registration, have significantly expanded and rejuvenated Sarawak's electorate. 'This growing voter base necessitates a corresponding increase in elected representatives to truly reflect the people's will,' he said. He added that the new composition would help strike a healthier balance in representation, avoiding a concentration of influence in urban centres and ensuring resources are distributed more equitably. 'This is not just about numbers; it's about ensuring every Sarawakian, regardless of geography or age, is fairly represented. That's the spirit of democracy,' he said. Echoing similar views, Chieng Jin Ek (GPS- Bukit Assek) described the Bill as 'timely and necessary,' adding that the legislature must evolve in tandem with the state's fast-changing population landscape. 'This Bill answers a basic democratic principle: representation must grow alongside the population,' he said. Chieng noted that Sarawak's voter base had surged by nearly 60 per cent following the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration from 1.25 million in 2021 to over two million as of January this year. 'With such a massive increase in voters, maintaining the current 82-seat configuration will dilute the effectiveness of representation, especially in rapidly urbanising or vast rural constituencies,' he said. He also pointed out that many assemblymen are now overstretched due to constituency size and growing demands. 'When one ADUN has to cover tens of thousands of voters across scattered areas, it becomes harder to engage meaningfully with every community,' he said, adding that the proposed increase would help ensure more efficient and people-centric service delivery. Chieng said the move to expand the assembly also reflects the realities of development in Sarawak, where growth is no longer confined to urban centres. 'Development without representation risks being uneven and unsustainable,' he said.
Borneo Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Assemblymen support more seats for fairer representation
Chukpai (left) and Chieng debating the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 at the State Legislative Assembly today. – Penerangan photo KUCHING (July 7): Increasing the number of seats in the State Legislative Assembly is essential to strengthening rural representation and keeping pace with the state's growing electorate, said Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon. Debating the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025, Chukpai said the proposed increase from 82 to 99 elected members would help correct long-standing imbalances between urban and rural constituencies. 'Historically, rural communities have struggled to have their voices heard. By expanding the assembly, we can close that gap and enable more equitable development across the state,' he said. Chukpai pointed out that many rural areas remain vast, isolated, and underrepresented despite being rich in natural resources and cultural heritage. He said expanding the assembly would provide a clearer platform for local issues to reach the legislative floor. 'More representatives mean better access for remote communities to the policy-making process. This leads to more grounded, community-focused development—something we've long needed in interior areas,' he added. Chukpai also highlighted how national policy reforms, such as lowering the voting age to 18 and implementing automatic voter registration, have significantly expanded and rejuvenated Sarawak's electorate. 'This growing voter base necessitates a corresponding increase in elected representatives to truly reflect the people's will,' he said. He added that the new composition would help strike a healthier balance in representation, avoiding a concentration of influence in urban centres and ensuring resources are distributed more equitably. 'This is not just about numbers; it's about ensuring every Sarawakian, regardless of geography or age, is fairly represented. That's the spirit of democracy,' he said. Echoing similar views, Bukit Assek assemblyman Chieng Jin Ek described the Bill as 'timely and necessary,' adding that the legislature must evolve in tandem with the state's fast-changing population landscape. 'This Bill answers a basic democratic principle: representation must grow alongside the population,' he said. Chieng noted that Sarawak's voter base had surged by nearly 60 per cent following the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration from 1.25 million in 2021 to over two million as of January this year. 'With such a massive increase in voters, maintaining the current 82-seat configuration will dilute the effectiveness of representation, especially in rapidly urbanising or vast rural constituencies,' he said. He also pointed out that many assemblymen are now overstretched due to constituency size and growing demands. 'When one ADUN has to cover tens of thousands of voters across scattered areas, it becomes harder to engage meaningfully with every community,' he said, adding that the proposed increase would help ensure more efficient and people-centric service delivery. Chieng said the move to expand the assembly also reflects the realities of development in Sarawak, where growth is no longer confined to urban centres. 'Development without representation risks being uneven and unsustainable,' he said.
Barnama
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
UMNO Needs Fresh Approach To Recapture Lost Seats, Win GE16
KEPALA BATAS, July 6 (Bernama) -- UMNO needs a fresh approach in its efforts to win back seats it lost, including the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat in the state, said its vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. He said the current political landscape was highly dynamic, especially with the implementation of Undi 18, and UMNO could no longer afford to remain bound by conventional thinking. 'We are currently studying what needs to be done before facing the next election. (In Pahang), for instance, we have started to aggressively reach out to young people, including students and Pahang-born individuals living outside the state. bootstrap slideshow 'If we use the same approach, we will get the same results. We will maintain our performance, but we must also adopt new approaches to boost public confidence in the current government,' he told reporters after officiating the Kepala Batas UMNO Division Delegates Meeting here today. Also present was Kepala Batas UMNO Division chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who is also the Bertam assemblyman. Wan Rosdy, meanwhile, urged Kepala Batas UMNO members to formulate a plan and strategy to recapture the parliamentary seat previously held by the late fifth Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from 1978 to 2013. bootstrap slideshow In the 15th General Election (GE15), Reezal Merican lost the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat to Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad by a majority of 2,867 votes. In response to PN's statement that it had devised a strategy to capture Pahang in the 16th General Election (GE16), Wan Rosdy said the opposition was merely playing on sentiment and perception to appear capable in the eyes of the people. 'They (the opposition) do not know the actual situation in Pahang. We are currently working hard to reclaim the seats won by PN,' he said.
The Sun
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Umno must adopt new strategies to regain lost seats in GE16
KEPALA BATAS: Umno must embrace new strategies to recapture parliamentary seats it lost in previous elections, including Kepala Batas, according to its vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. He stressed that the party can no longer rely on conventional methods, especially with the changing political landscape influenced by Undi 18. Wan Rosdy highlighted the need for aggressive outreach to younger voters, including students and Pahang-born individuals residing outside the state. 'If we use the same approach, we will get the same results. We must adopt new methods to strengthen public confidence in the government,' he said after officiating the Kepala Batas Umno Division Delegates Meeting. The Kepala Batas parliamentary seat, once held by former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from 1978 to 2013, was lost to Perikatan Nasional (PN) in GE15. PN candidate Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad won with a 2,867-vote majority against Umno's Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican. Wan Rosdy urged local Umno members to strategize effectively to reclaim the seat. He dismissed PN's claims of targeting Pahang in GE16, stating that the opposition relies on sentiment rather than ground realities. 'They do not understand Pahang's actual situation. We are working hard to take back seats won by PN,' he said. Earlier, Bersatu Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah stated that PN had outlined plans to defend its seats and aimed to gain control of Pahang in the next general election.
