Sarawak govt tables bill to raise number of state seats to 99
PETALING JAYA : Sarawak has tabled a bill to increase the number of elected representatives in its state assembly from 82 to 99.
Tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who tabled the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, said the proposed increase was necessary to reflect Sarawak's demographic shifts and urban growth, as well as the rising demand for equitable representation.
'The state assembly must remain dynamic and responsive to the evolving needs of our people,' he said during a special sitting today, reported The Borneo Post.
On Saturday, Sarawak assembly speaker Asfia Awang Nassar said all three readings of the bill would be done on the same day.
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Dr Annuar speaks during the Motion of Adjournment. – Penerangan photo KUCHING (July 7): The passing of the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Members) Bill 2025 marks a significant milestone for Sarawak, with far-reaching implications for democratic representation, social equity and rural development. Speaking during the Motion of Adjournment for the special one-day sitting of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee (GPS-Nangka) said the expansion of seats would allow more voices from across Sarawak to be heard in the legislature. 'Because of today, the voices of the people from every corner of Sarawak will increase in this august House. 'This is important in democratic practice. A government based on democracy, that is, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people,' he said. He said the clearest outcome from the day's debates was the shared priority among most assemblymen to ensure that every community in Sarawak had a voice in the law-making process. 'For a diverse state like Sarawak, equity—or fairness—is critical. If we apply the principle of 'One man, one vote, one value', minority groups will continue to be marginalised. 'In the end, the majority will govern in a totalitarian manner, and this is not good for democracy.' Dr Annuar also addressed criticisms suggesting that the proposed increase in state seats could lead to gerrymandering—the manipulation of electoral boundaries to favour certain political outcomes. He firmly rejected this concern, stressing that voting outcomes in Sarawak have historically reflected voters' choices, not 'boundary engineering'. 'For example in 2016, Democratic Action Party won seven seats. However, in 2022, without any redelineation, they suffered major losses and were left with only two seats, Pending and Padungan. 'This clearly proves that their defeat was not due to gerrymandering.' Responding to concerns over the cost of additional seats, Dr Annuar said the development impact far outweighed the expenditure on elected representatives' allowances. 'Some have said that this will increase government spending because we have to pay allowances to 17 new assembly members. True, their allowances may cost around RM4.5 million a year, but those 17 new areas will enjoy a development budget of RM120 million. 'So, are we to deny RM120 million in development just because of RM4.5 million in allowances? That's an illogical comparison and merely aimed at confusing the public,' he said. The special sitting adjourned sine die at 5.44pm.
