S'wak tables bill to increase state assembly seats from 82 to 99
The bill, tabled by Sarawak tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, aims to reflect demographic changes, urban expansion, and the growing need for equitable representation in the state.
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Borneo Post
5 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Abd Karim: Sarawak maintains 40-year youth age cap despite federal shift
Abdul Karim (seated third left) with other guests in a photocall with youths after officiating at the BELIA GoBiz@Limbang 2025 programme held at Dewan Suarah in Limbang yesterday. MIRI (July 13): Sarawak will maintain its current youth age limit of 40, despite the federal government's decision to lower the national youth age cap to 30, which is set to take effect in January next year. Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Sarawak retains the autonomy to determine its own age threshold for youth at the state level. 'We are not bound by what has been decided at the federal level. For now, Sarawak's definition of youth remains between the ages of 15 and 40. 'We do not want to reduce the age limit abruptly as it would have many implications,' he told reporters when met after officiating at the BELIA GoBiz@Limbang 2025 programme held at Dewan Suarah in Limbang yesterday. Abdul Karim said various ministries, including the Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Ministry and other sectors, have programmes in place to support youth development, many of which would be affected if the age limit were lowered too suddenly. He added that setting the age limit strictly at 30 would be problematic as many individuals at that age are just completing their studies. 'If we bring the cut-off below 40, they would no longer be eligible for various forms of funding and assistance. That is why we are keeping the current policy in place for Sarawak,' he added. Abdul Karim, who is Sarawak United National Youth Organisation (Saberkas) president, also touched on the important role played by the state's largest youth-based non-governmental organisation in driving youth development across various fields. He said that Saberkas is unique in that 30 per cent of its leadership comprises individuals aged over 40, while the remaining 70 per cent must be aged 40 and below. 'This composition ensures that the wisdom and experience of senior members are passed on to guide the younger generation,' he added. Previously, federal Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced that the federal government would implement a new youth age cap of 30 effective Jan 1 next year, under the Youth Societies and Youth Development (Amendment) Act 2019. The current national youth age limit remains at 40 until the new policy comes into force. Also present at the function were Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail; Batu Danau assemblyman Dato Paulus Palu Gumbang and Limbang Resident Unus Tambi. Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah age Hannah Yeoh lead youth
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- New Straits Times
99 seats for Sarawak assembly in line with state's geography
KUCHING: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof described the increase in the number of Sarawak state legislative assembly seats to 99 as the right move, based on the real needs of the state, which has an area almost equal to Peninsular Malaysia. Fadillah, who is also Petra jaya member of parliament, said the decision was based on research and debate at the state level, besides taking into account factors such as the size of the area, ethnic diversity and administrative needs, not simply based on the number of residents. "Some say this criterion should be based on population size… however, we have to look not only at population size, but also at the size of the area and representation of ethnic groups because Sarawak is almost as large as Peninsular Malaysia. "I support this move because it will provide more effective administration for us to develop Sarawak," he told reporters after attending the 'AI for MY Future' course for Petra Jaya parliamentary constituency at the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) in Kuching yesterday. Fadillah said with the addition of state assembly seats, more rural areas will have their own elected representatives, thus allowing the voices of the local community to be brought to the state policy-making stage. Asked if the move was related to the demands under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), he stressed that the main focus was on administrative efficiency. "I cannot say that (part of MA63), but what is more important is that we focus on administering Sarawak more effectively and efficiently," he said. On July 7, the Sarawak state legislative assembly passed the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025 to add 17 new seats, bringing the total number of seats to 99 from 82 previously. Touching on the pilot project of the artificial intelligence (AI) course for the Petra Jaya parliamentary constituency, Fadillah said a total of 108 participants, the majority of whom were community leaders, had undergone the course to master basic skills such as data analysis and document preparation in daily affairs. He said the ultimate goal of the programme in collaboration with Microsoft is to produce a group of trainees who would then be able to train local communities, especially in rural areas. "The effectiveness of this programme will be assessed by Microsoft before it can be expanded to the entire state… If we can identify the locations of communities that need assistance through data, we can plan more accurately and efficiently," he said. – Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
18 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Population size not sole reason for larger Sarawak assembly, says Fadillah
PBB vice-president Fadillah Yusof, who is MP for Petra Jaya, speaking at a constituency event today. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Sarawak's decision to increase the size of the state assembly was not solely based on the size of the population, says PBB vice-president Fadillah Yusof. Responding to criticism of the decision to add 17 more seats, Fadillah said the legislative assembly also took into account the state's ethnic makeup and administrative needs. 'Some say this criterion should be based on population size. However, we have to look not only at the size of the population, but the size of the area as well as (to ensure fairer) representation of ethnic groups,' Bernama quoted him as saying. He said Sarawak is almost as large as Peninsular Malaysia in land area. (Sarawak covers 124,450 sq km, while the peninsula covers 132,490 sq km.) Fadillah said the addition of state assembly seats meant there will be more elected representatives for rural areas, which would allow for the voices of the local community to be heard when it came to formulating policies. 'I support this move because it will provide more effective administration for us to develop Sarawak,' he told reporters after attending an event at his parliamentary constituency of Petra Jaya. Last week, the Sarawak assembly passed a bill to increase the number of seats in the assembly from 82 to 99. State minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who tabled the bill, said the increase was warranted to accommodate population growth, urban sprawl and vast rural areas. However, the decision came under fire from Thomas Fann, chairman of electoral reform group Engage, who said there was no justification for adding more seats. He said Sarawak was already among the most over-represented of all state assemblies. He said electoral imbalances would be worsened and public resources placed under strain. A former deputy chairman of the Election Commission, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, said Sarawak's decision appeared to be politically motivated.
