PBDS welcomes S'wak seat increase but warns against unequal rural development funding

Borneo Post

10-07-2025

Moses questions the fairness of the redelineation exercise and stresses that it must be followed by urgent reforms in the allocation of rural development funds.
SIBU (July 10): Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has welcomed the recent approval of the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, which will increase the number of Sarawak state seats from 82 to 99, calling it a positive step toward greater democratic representation, especially for rural communities.
However, the party voiced strong concerns over the reported allocation of the 17 new constituencies, alleging that the majority appear to favour Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the leading party in the ruling coalition.
PBDS president Major (R) Moses Ripai questioned the fairness of the redelineation exercise and stressed that it must be followed by urgent reforms in the allocation of rural development funds.
'While we welcome the increase in seats, the government must not stop at redrawing political lines. If they redraw boundaries on paper, then they must also redraw their priorities for the people, especially those in rural Sarawak who have long been forgotten,' he said.
Moses criticised the current model of funding under the Minor Rural Project (MRP) and Rural Transformation Programme (RTP), where every assemblyman receives equal allocations, regardless of the size or development needs of their constituencies.
'It makes no sense that an urban seat like Satok, which is fully equipped and covers only 10 square kilometres, gets the same budget as Telang Usan or Belaga, which span thousands of kilometres of difficult terrain and scattered settlements,' he said.
'You cannot give the same budget to Satok and Telang Usan, just as you cannot give the same pair of shoes to a child and a giant. That is not equality; it is negligence,' he added.
Moses further described the redelineation exercise as 'political cosmetic surgery', if it is not accompanied by fair resource distribution.
'It looks like change, but nothing reaches the bones of the people. What Sarawak needs is not more control by one party, but more justice, more equity, and real transformation,' he stressed.
PBDS proposed a comprehensive review of the MRP and RTP allocation formula, urging the state government to adopt a needs-based model that considers geographical area, population size, number of kampungs or longhouses, infrastructure conditions, and access to basic utilities.
Moses also urged the government to extend equal development attention to areas like Kapit, Hulu Rajang, Sri Aman, and Serian, which face even harsher conditions compared to more politically favoured divisions.
'The Dayak people have waited too long for a fair share of this land we helped build. This time, we are not asking; we are rising.
'We will not allow redelineation to become a tool of political monopoly. PBDS is ready to rise, contest, and offer authentic Dayak leadership rooted in integrity,' he said.
PBDS reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the newly created constituencies serve as platforms for meaningful development, not mere electoral arithmetic.
'True representation must come with development, equity, and dignity for the people of rural Sarawak,' added Moses. Moses Ripai PBDS redelineation rural development seats increase