KUCHING: Pending state assemblywoman Violet Yong has expressed strong disagreement with what she views as a misleading narrative by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and its component parties PBB, SUPP, PRS, and PDP regarding the proposed increase in Sarawak state seats from 82 to 99.
Yong contends that the assertion linking the proposed addition of 17 state constituencies to the need for increased parliamentary representation is both inaccurate and inconsistent with constitutional provisions.
“It is incorrect to suggest that an increase in parliamentary seats requires a corresponding rise in state seats,” she said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Citing Article 46(1) of the Federal Constitution, Yong clarified that changes to parliamentary seat numbers are achieved through constitutional amendment and are unrelated to the number of state constituencies.
“To illustrate this point, historical precedents show that parliamentary seats have been increased without altering state seats. For example, in 1974, parliamentary seats increased to 154 while Sarawak maintained 48 state seats. Similar patterns occurred in 1986 and 1995. Even in 2005, Sarawak expanded its state seats to 71 without any change in parliamentary representation,” she explained.
Yong further raised concerns that linking the two processes could mislead the public and called the claim “legally unfounded.”
She also voiced reservations about the fairness of the proposed redelineation, suggesting that the exercise may be politically motivated if it does not address existing disparities in voter distribution.
“There are significant imbalances, especially between rural and urban constituencies. Many rural seats have fewer than 10,000 voters, while urban constituencies like Pending, Batu Lintang, Kota Sentosa, and Pelawan have between 30,000 and 40,000 voters,” she said.
Yong argued that this disparity challenges the democratic principle of equal representation, adding that urban voters, who are often more vocal and politically engaged, should not be underrepresented.
She urged the Election Commission to carry out its duties fairly and independently, guided by demographic realities rather than political considerations.
“If redelineation is to be carried out, the focus should be on rebalancing overpopulated urban constituencies such as Pending, Padungan, Batu Lintang, and Pelawan. The process must reflect genuine population growth and voter equity,” she said.
Yong stressed that Sarawakians deserve an electoral system that upholds democratic principles and ensures fair representation.
“We have a responsibility to speak up whenever we see potential misrepresentation or abuse in the redelineation process,” she said.
By Connie Chieng