KUCHING: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) intends to propose a revision of the voting boundaries for the state this year.
Premier and GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the coalition would submit its proposal on the new constituencies to the Election Commission (EC), which will have the final say on the matter.
“We will submit our proposal for new constituencies to the EC based on some basic parameters.
“Firstly, the constituency must have a diverse mix of constituents, representing all races.
“Secondly, there should be balanced representation between urban and rural areas.”
He said this in a press conference after chairing the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Supreme Council meeting at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here today (May 11).
On Jan 1, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh hinted about carrying out a redelineation exercise in Sarawak as it has been eight years from the date of completion of the previous redelineation, which was in 2015.
On Oct 8, 2023, PBB’s Special Convention for Betong Zone passed a resolution, proposing that the number of parliamentary seats in Sarawak be increased by 12, in line with the quest for one-third representation for Sabah and Sarawak in the Dewan Rakyat.
Presently, Sarawak has 31 parliamentary seats whereas Sabah has 25 seats, making up only 25 per cent of the total 222 seats in Parliament.
Also present at the meeting were Deputy Premier and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Premier and PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, PBB Women chief Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, Federal Works Minister and PBB secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) deputy president Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
