Chong: No justification for DUN seat hike, push for more parliamentary seats instead

Borneo Post

07-07-2025

Chong (centre) stresses his point during the press conference while flanked by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong and DAP Socialist Youth Sarawak secretary George Lam. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (July 7): Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Padungan) does not see the need for Sarawak to increase its seats from 82 to 99 as the current population-to-state elected representatives (ADUNs) ratio remains relatively small compared to other Commonwealth nations.
He said there was no compelling reason to increase the number of ADUNs, especially when then existing representatives already serve fewer constituents than their counterparts in both developed and developing Commonwealth countries.
'In these countries, each state assemblymen or assemblywomen serve a lot more than our current ADUN member-to-population ration which is 1:34,000 persons, and I think the land masses is a lot bigger.
'So, there's no reason why we are already serving under par with other ADUNs of the Commonwealth countries that we still need to increase the number of the state legislative,' he told a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly Complex here.
He said this after debating the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 at the special sitting of the DUN today.
Chong acknowledged that rural constituencies present logistical challenges but stressed that urban constituencies also have their own complexities due to higher population density and the diversity of issues.
'The more people an elected representative has to serve, the more the demands that they have to address and tackle their problem.'
He proposed the introduction of a weighted index system that factors in both geographical size and population to ensure a fairer allocation of seats.
'If your area is very big, maybe you get one plus point or if your population is large, you get another.
'This index must be drafted and must be applied to the allocation of seats and the number of seats delineation, so that it has at least a fairer delineation of rural and urban seats,' he said.
He also questioned the argument made by some elected representatives that they could not adequately serve their constituencies due to workload.
'If you feel it's too difficult to serve, then step aside and let others who can serve take over,' he said.
On the claim that a spike in voter numbers justifies more state seats, Chong dismissed the notion as flawed, saying the role of elected representatives is to serve all constituents and not just the voters.
'There has been no sharp increase in Sarawak's population so it's not a justified reason.
'We have always been serving people of all ages even before they are eligible to vote.'
The DAP Sarawak chairman also criticised the financial cost of adding 17 more ADUNs, noting that the estimated RM20 million in salaries alone for one term could be better used to benefit the people.
'This does not include their service centres, perks, and lifelong pensions.
'The government should use that money for the people instead of expanding the legislature unnecessarily,' he said.
He also questioned the necessity of having 32 political secretaries to the Premier — one for each parliamentary seat in Sarawak.
'If you think that these ADUNs are insufficient, then why not reduce the number of political secretaries first?
'They too receive salaries, perks, drivers, and pensions,' he said, adding that having one or two political secretaries to the Premier should suffice.
Chong stressed that what Sarawakians truly want is greater representation in the Parliament and not in the State Legislative Assembly.
'I call upon the Sarawak government to move a motion in Parliament through the deputy prime minister or minister to increase the number of Sarawak parliamentary seats.
'I will pledge my full support for that motion along with the other Sarawakian DAP MPs,' he said. Chong Chieng Jen increase lead seats State Legislative Assemb;y