Social activist: Redelineation process must be better and relevant, not just bigger
KOTA SAMARAHAN (July 9): The coming redelineation exercise by the Election Commission (EC) must improve actual representation, said social activist Peter John Jaban.
In a statement yesterday, he said the redelineation exercise and allocation of seats among component coalition parties must carefully consider improving representation of Sarawakians and not compound issues from outdated political paradigms.
'Representation must reflect the challenges and aspirations currently faced by the people. The last such increase was conducted in 2014 when it was a very different political and social landscape—thankfully, we have a great deal more transparency in government a decade later.
'But if the people of Sarawak are expected to support 17 more elected representatives, paying both their wages and pensions, then this must work for the people. Not only must it support the long-term goal of our rights in the federal parliament under the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 (MA63) but it must also improve representation for the voters of Sarawak,' he said.
The State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Composition of Membership Bill 2025 was passed in the august house on Monday, increasing the total number to state seats to 99.
Peter John said there has been a massive rural to urban migration.
'Some estimates suggest that Sarawak is now up to 65 per cent urbanised, and the majority of those migrants have been Dayak. We are no longer living in a time when most Dayaks stayed in their traditional ancestral communities—there has been massive rural to urban migration; sometimes by choice, sometimes by necessity.
'The voter landscape of both our rural and urban areas is increasingly complex, and can no longer support the simplistic, race-based system of a decade ago. We need a redelineation that can take into account both the multi-ethnic makeup of our urban constituencies while still ensuring the specific needs of the rural population are addressed,' he said.
He said there were new issues affecting ordinary Sarawakians, such as the lack of infrastructure, urban deprivation and poverty, rural connectivity and livelihoods, loss of culture and community.
'These are the concerns that our new YBs (elected representatives) must address, and the redelineation must allow them to do so without political or racial bias.
'We are in a situation where the component parties of the ruling coalition also need better representation to provide a balancing voice in the DUN for the constituents,' he said.
'This cannot just come from a small handful of opposition representatives—one of whom (Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen) was ejected from yesterday's (Monday) sitting.
'Therefore, we hope the allocation of seats takes this into account and is not dominated by one single party. The people of Sarawak need choice among parties that understand their needs, and can provide checks and balances to each other for the good of the people,' he said.
Peter John said while Sarawak enjoys great racial and religious harmony and social unity, people must learn to live together and serve each other's needs as the profile of the state changes.
'This redelineation should not just be bigger, it must also be better. It must look to the challenges and issues the people are facing, and give the DUN the best chance of addressing these.
'The people must be represented in the DUN—that is the only purpose of the house. So, let us hope for the multi-ethnic, responsive and relevant DUN that we all deserve for the next decade.' election commission lead Peter John Jaban redelineation
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