KUCHING: Mas Gading MP, Mordi Bimol has urged the Sarawak Government to review the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, which was passed on 7 July to increase the number of state seats from 82 to 99.
He said the priority should instead be a fair and comprehensive redelineation of electoral boundaries to ensure effective and equitable representation for the people.
Mordi pointed out that merely adding seats without correcting the flawed boundaries would worsen existing issues such as malapportionment and gerrymandering.
He explained that many parliamentary and state constituencies currently cut across district and local authority lines, making administrative coordination and development planning inefficient.
He cited Santubong parliamentary constituency as an example, which spans two districts, Kuching and Lundu and involves different local councils, leading to confusion among residents when trying to access public services or communicate with their elected representatives.
He also called on the Federal Government to prioritise restoring Sarawak’s parliamentary representation in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which promised one-third of Dewan Rakyat seats for Sabah and Sarawak. According to him, an increase of 14 to 17 parliamentary seats for Sarawak would be more urgent and appropriate than adding more state seats.
Responding to arguments made by some GPS assemblymen that rural constituencies are too large for a single elected representative to manage, Mordi said this should not be used as a reason to create more seats.
He noted that government-aligned assemblymen already receive at least RM9 million in annual development allocations, while opposition constituencies receive no funding at all. He further highlighted that 10 constituencies including Tasik Biru have received special grants worth up to RM150 million each from the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA).
“If development is still slow despite these large allocations, the issue lies in implementation, not the number of seats,” he said.
Mordi also stressed that the redelineation process must reflect ethnic diversity and maintain a balance between urban and rural populations. He warned against allowing any single group or area to dominate political representation while others are sidelined. He reiterated the importance of upholding the principle of “one person, one vote, one value” in any electoral boundary review.
He urged the Sarawak Government and the Election Commission to carry out the redelineation exercise in a transparent and inclusive manner, based on public data and with input from civil society, the opposition, and independent experts.
Mordi stated that making such decisions unilaterally without proper consultation would only erode public trust in the democratic process.
By Connie Chieng