Redelineation Process Key To Addition Of 17 DUN Seats
KUCHING: The redelineation process by the Election Commission of Malaysia (SPR) is now the critical step in realising the addition of 17 seats in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN), which has already been approved, thereby increasing the total number of seats from 82 to 99.
Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, said that following approval at the DUN level, the next responsibility now lies entirely under the jurisdiction of the SPR to carry out studies as well as the redelineation process at the grassroots level.
According to him, so far the Sarawak DUN has yet to receive any official report from the SPR regarding confirmation and the proposed redelineation for the 17 new seats.
“After the report from the SPR is received, the proposed redelineation will be displayed to the public to allow for any objections before it is gazetted, and subsequently brought to Parliament for approval.
“The addition of State Assembly seats only requires the support of a simple majority and is not expected to face any problems. However, the addition of Parliamentary seats requires the support of two-thirds of Members of Parliament,” he said.
He said this when met by reporters during a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house visit at the residence of Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, here on Sunday.
Meanwhile, he stressed that geographical factors must be taken into account in the redelineation process in Sarawak and cannot rely solely on population numbers.
In this regard, he expressed hope that the Federal Government and the SPR would understand the unique geography of the state when carrying out the process.
In another development, he informed that the term of the Sarawak Cabinet runs until February 2027, although dissolution can be carried out at any time by the Sarawak Governor on the advice of the Sarawak Premier.
“The power to dissolve the Assembly lies with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, while the Premier only provides advice and makes the announcement,” he explained.
Also present were Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, and Deputy Minister for Plantation and Commodities Dato Sri Huang Tiong Sii. –UKASnews
