Latest news with #ofMembership)Bill2025
The Sun
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Stark rise in eligible urban voters to impact Sarawak election
KUCHING: The upcoming Sarawak state election is set to see a two-fold increase in the number eligible voters at major urban constituencies in the southern, central and northern regions of the state. According to data compiled by Civil Society - Rise of Social Efforts Sarawak (ROSE), key areas that are affected by the soaring voter numbers are state capital Kuching, oil and gas centre Miri, and the two major towns of Sibu and Bintulu. The NGO's president Geoffrey Tang said the Election Commission (EC) must give top priority to redelineating these urban constituencies so that the voters are better represented. 'Sarawak has constituencies such as Senadin state seat in Miri where the number of voters has reached the 73,430 mark. 'There are at least 21 similar state constituencies with very high increases in voter populations exceeding 23,000 each,' he said. Other affected state constituencies are Pantai Damai, Tupong, Samariang, Pending, Batu Lintang, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kitang, Batu Kawah, Mambong, Muara Tuang (all in southern Sarawak); Stakan, Tarat, Repok, Bukit Assek, Dudong, Pelawan, Nangka (central Sarawak); and Tanjung Batu, Pujut, Senadin, Piasau and Lambir (northern Sarawak). Tang said the redelineation must reflect the need to give these extremely high voter population seats better representation. 'The EC must carry out redelineation in Sarawak based on these datas so the exercise will be transparent, fair and reflect the ground realities that voters in these key constituencies need better representation in the State Legislative Assembly so that their needs can be better taken care of,' he said in a statement recently. On July 7, a new Bill was tabled and subsequently passed to increase the number of state constituencies in Sarawak from 82 to 99. The Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025 was tabled by Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who is state assemblyman for Asajaya. Speaking at the assembly, special one-day sitting, he said the increase in seats is necessary. 'In view of the increasing number of voters and the geographical complex setup of Sarawak, we need to have more elected representatives to serve the rakyat.' Abdul Karim had noted to the house that the minimum voting age has been reduced to 18 years from 21. 'Sarawak will thus see a big surge in voters not just in urban areas but also in rural areas. 'This vast state has large rural constituencies that must have better representation,' he said when tabling the Bill for first reading. The move by Sarawak to increase the number of state constituencies is in line with Article 113 (2) of the Federal Constitution which allows a review of electoral boundaries in the state after eight years. The last redelineation exercise in Sarawak was in 2015, Abdul Karim noted. The EC will be the authority to decide on the new electoral boundaries. The next state polls are due by June next year.
Borneo Post
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Dapsy S'wak slams DUN seat expansion as power grab, not for people's benefit
Hee questions the rationale behind the seat expansion, pointing out the lack of public demand or clear justification. MIRI (July 11): The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak has criticised the recent move to expand the number of seats in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), describing it as a politically-driven exercise aimed at entrenching power rather than addressing the people's needs. Dapsy Sarawak chief Peter Hee called the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led government's focus on redrawing political boundaries a misplaced priority, at a time when Sarawakians are grappling with rising living costs, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to quality education and healthcare. 'This is clearly a strategy to entrench power, not to uplift lives,' he said in a statement yesterday. The Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, passed during a special assembly sitting on July 7, paves the way for an increase in the state constituencies from 82 to 99. The last redelineation in 2015 saw the creation of 11 new seats. Hee questioned the rationale behind the seat expansion, pointing out the lack of public demand or clear justification. 'Where is the transparency? Where are the consultations? How will these changes benefit rural communities rather than just strengthen the positions of political elites?' He cautioned that the move could worsen development gaps between urban and rural areas, stressing that the government should instead prioritise equitable distribution of resources, better education opportunities, and youth employment. 'What we urgently need is equitable distribution of public resources, quality education opportunities, and support for young people to secure jobs or start businesses, not more politicians to attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies,' he said. He urged Sarawakians to remain vigilant and push for full public engagement before any constituency redelineation is implemented. 'The government must present clear data and a solid rationale before even considering altering constituency lines. 'Otherwise, it's just another political game,' he added, noting that young Sarawakians wanted a system that prioritises public welfare over political considerations. 'The youth want a fair and transparent system – one that puts people first, not politics.' DAPSY DUN seats lead Peter Hee
Borneo Post
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Dapsy S'wak slams DUN seat expansion as power grab, not people's benefit
Hee questions the rationale behind the seat expansion, pointing out the lack of public demand or clear justification. MIRI (July 11): The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak has criticised the recent move to expand the number of seats in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), describing it as a politically-driven exercise aimed at entrenching power rather than addressing the people's needs. Dapsy Sarawak chief Peter Hee called the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led government's focus on redrawing political boundaries a misplaced priority, at a time when Sarawakians are grappling with rising living costs, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to quality education and healthcare. 'This is clearly a strategy to entrench power, not to uplift lives,' he said in a statement yesterday. The Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, passed during a special assembly sitting on July 7, paves the way for an increase in the state constituencies from 82 to 99. The last redelineation in 2015 saw the creation of 11 new seats. Hee questioned the rationale behind the seat expansion, pointing out the lack of public demand or clear justification. 'Where is the transparency? Where are the consultations? How will these changes benefit rural communities rather than just strengthen the positions of political elites?' He cautioned that the move could worsen development gaps between urban and rural areas, stressing that the government should instead prioritise equitable distribution of resources, better education opportunities, and youth employment. 'What we urgently need is equitable distribution of public resources, quality education opportunities, and support for young people to secure jobs or start businesses, not more politicians to attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies,' he said. He urged Sarawakians to remain vigilant and push for full public engagement before any constituency redelineation is implemented. 'The government must present clear data and a solid rationale before even considering altering constituency lines. 'Otherwise, it's just another political game,' he added, noting that young Sarawakians wanted a system that prioritises public welfare over political considerations. 'The youth want a fair and transparent system – one that puts people first, not politics.' DAPSY DUN seats lead Peter Hee
