KUCHING: The upcoming Second Meeting of the Fourth Term of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (Special Meeting) to be held this Monday will table the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (Membership Composition) Bill 2025.
Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar said the tabling of the Bill this time is for the addition of members to the DUN based on Standing Orders 14(1)(b) of the Sarawak Constitution, Article 14(1)(b).
He hinted at additional seats in three parliamentary constituencies, namely Hulu Rajang, Baram and Bintulu.
"For example, the Hulu Rajang parliamentary constituency covers an area of 34,080 square kilometres, which is larger than the combined states of Perlis and Melaka.
"The Baram parliamentary constituency covers an area of 22,075 square kilometres, which is also larger than the combined states of Perlis and Melaka.
"In addition, the Bintulu parliamentary constituency recorded the highest number of voters in Sarawak, which is 113,599 people, with this constituency housing four DUN elected representatives in an area of only 7,222 square kilometers.
"These elected representatives are like 'geographic prisoners' because of the vast area of their area," he said at the Pre-Council Meeting press conference in conjunction with the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Special Conference at the Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Headquarters on Saturday.
He clarified that various major changes have occurred with the lowering of the voting age to 18 years, triggering a sudden increase in the number of voters, thus creating a new scenario for elected leaders and elected representatives.
However, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia did not announce the number of seats or the number of members that will be added with the presentation to be carried out during the special conference that will be presented by the Sarawak PBB Information Chief who is also the Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
"I leave the number of members added in this Bill entirely to the minister while the issue of demarcation of constituencies at the field level is the responsibility of the Election Commission (EC).
"I will not announce how many members are added because that is the exclusive jurisdiction of the minister who tabled the Bill.
"The addition of Sarawak Legislative Assembly membership under Article 14 of the Sarawak Constitution is within the jurisdiction of the Sarawak Government and after approval, it will be submitted to the Federal Parliament for ratification," he explained.
Earlier, Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg was present to chair the meeting.
His arrival was welcomed by Sarawak Deputy Premiers, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Also present at the press conference were Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Sarawak Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker and Muara Tuang Assemblyman Datuk Idris Buang and Sarawak Legislative Assembly Secretary Nur Azhar Bujang.
Present during the meeting were the Sarawak Cabinet of Ministers, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak Deputy Cabinet Ministers, Sarawak Attorney-General Dato Sri Saferi Ali, Legislative Assembly Members and other dignitaries. -UKASnews
