Latest news with #ofMembership
The Star
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Sarawak passes bill to increase assembly seats
State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah tabling the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill on Monday (July 7). KUCHING: The Sarawak Legislative Assembly will increase its membership from 82 to 99, with the redelineation of constituencies to be carried out by the Election Commission (EC). This comes after the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025 was passed in a special one-day sitting on Monday (July 7). State Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah stated that the Bill aims to ensure Sarawakians are well-represented and well-served. "This is a constitutional exercise done in the spirit of justice. This exercise is not about redelineation of constituencies but increasing the number of representatives in this House from the present 82 to 99," he said when winding up the debate on the Bill. Abdul Karim also said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government had no say in the redelineation of the 17 new state constituencies as this was the prerogative of the EC. He dismissed allegations by Opposition members Chong Chieng Jen and Violet Yong that the seat increase was meant to strengthen GPS. "The EC is an impartial commission. The state government does not set it up. "Accusing the state government or this House of practising gerrymandering in the redelineation exercise is tantamount to demeaning the EC. "We will leave it to the EC to do the necessary, pursuant to Article 113 of the Federal Constitution," he said.
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Sarawak adds 17 state seats for 2026 election
KUCHING: Sarawak is set to increase its state constituencies from 82 to 99 following the tabling of a new Bill during a special sitting of the State Legislative Assembly today. State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (pic), who tabled the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, said the proposed increase is both timely and necessary in light of Sarawak's demographic shifts and rapid urbanisation. 'In view of the growing number of voters and the geographically complex nature of Sarawak, we need more elected representatives to better serve the rakyat. 'The minimum voting age has been lowered from 21 to 18, which will significantly increase the number of voters not only in urban areas but also in rural constituencies. 'This vast state has many large rural areas that require improved representation,' he said when tabling the Bill for its first reading. Abdul Karim said the move aligns with provisions under the Federal Constitution. 'Article 113(2) of the Federal Constitution allows for a review of electoral boundaries in a state every eight years. 'The last redelineation exercise in Sarawak was conducted in 2015, so the time is right for a review,' he said. He added that the Election Commission (EC) will be responsible for determining the new electoral boundaries once the Bill is passed. The redelineation exercise and establishment of the new constituencies are expected to be completed in time for the upcoming Sarawak state election, which is due in June next year.
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.
Borneo Post
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Abdul Karim: DUN seat expansion Bill expected to pass smoothly
Abdul Karim speaking to reporters following the pre-council meeting in Kuching. Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (July 5): The upcoming tabling of the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, which proposes increasing the number of seats in Sarawak's State Legislative Assembly (DUN), is expected to proceed smoothly, said Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. He said the Bill, once tabled, should receive majority support given the strong mandate held by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). 'Well, definitely, I expect it to be endorsed in the DUN first, given the kind of majority that GPS has. The tabling of the proposal to increase the number of DUN seats will definitely go through, the way I see it,' he said when met at the Pre-Council Meeting held in conjunction with the Special One-Day Sitting of the DUN at PBB Headquarters here today. He added that once endorsed by the DUN, the Bill would then be brought to Parliament for federal approval, a step he does not foresee encountering any resistance. 'Next would be for Parliament to also endorse it, which I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be, because it's not a parliamentary increase, it's a state increase,' he said. Abdul Karim explained that once both legislative bodies have endorsed the Bill, the Election Commission (EC) would be responsible for conducting the redelineation exercise. 'It is then for SPR to define where the increase should be and where the delineation would take place,' he added. The Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025 is expected to pave the way for the expansion of Sarawak's legislative representation, which will subsequently require the redrawing of constituency boundaries by the EC. Abdul Karim, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information Chief, added that the significant increase in the number of voters since 2018 has made the proposal to add more state seats a long-overdue necessity. Commenting on speculation that the motion could be tabled in Parliament as early as August, he said that while nothing has been confirmed, the proposal aligns with Sarawak's ongoing efforts to reclaim its rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including the push for more parliamentary seats. 'We have long urged for an increase in parliamentary representation. This increase in state seats may be seen as part of that broader effort, as any addition of parliamentary seats must also be preceded by a corresponding increase at the state level,' he said.
