Bill's proposed 99 DUN constituencies should lead to corresponding increase of parliamentary seats, says don
MIRI (July 7): The Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025, which will see an increase in the number of elected representatives in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) from 82 to 99 comes as no surprise, said Prof Dr James Chin.
The political analyst and professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania said speculation on the increase had been circulating for the past two years, particularly during the last parliamentary election.
'This is not new. The only surprise for many is that the number settled at 99, when some had anticipated it would go up to 101 or 102,' he said when contacted after Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah tabled the Bill during today's special DUN sitting.
Chin emphasised that the more significant development would be an increase in the number of parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah.
He pointed out it is typical that an increase in state seats would lead to a corresponding increase in parliamentary seats, although the Sarawak DUN itself has no authority to change parliamentary representation.
Chin stressed the importance of increasing parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak, in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
'I am more concerned about the parliamentary seats. It is very important for both Sabah and Sarawak to eventually hold one-third of the seats in Parliament, as enshrined under MA63,' he said.
He added that any increase in parliamentary seats would require a redelineation exercise, which is long overdue in Sarawak.
'The last redelineation was carried out in 2015. The process to add new parliamentary seats would take a minimum of two years, and it requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
'While that may be a significant hurdle, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim currently has the numbers to push it through,' he said.
When tabling the Bill today, Abdul Karim had said that the proposed increase is timely and necessary to reflect Sarawak's demographic changes, urban expansion, and growing demand for equitable representation.
He said the DUN must remain dynamic and responsive to the evolving needs of its people.
'Over the years, we have witnessed significant demographic changes, urban extension, and increasing demand for fair representation,' he told the august House.
He also noted that Sarawak's vast geographical landscape and the extensive areas that rural constituencies warrant more representation to enhance governance and improve service delivery.
'This proposed increase in the number of elected representatives is both reasonable and necessary.
'It will enhance accessibility to governance, ensure the needs and concerns of the rakyat are more efficiently and effectively addressed, and improve service delivery through leadership that is closer and more responsive to the rakyat,' he said.
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