17 more Sarawak state seats not too much to ask for, says MP

2026-03-08 - 12:43

Nancy Shukri noted that ethnic representation was a factor when state constituencies were delineated during the tenure of former Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud. PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak government is not being excessive in seeking to expand the state assembly by 17 seats, says Santubong MP Nancy Shukri, adding that the move would allow elected representatives to better serve the people, given the state’s vast size and diverse communities. Responding to comments that Sarawak is asking for too much in expanding the state assembly, she said the state government was “only asking for what is rightfully ours”, to make administration easier and help the people. “We have every right to ask that it be considered fairly and equitably,” Dayak Daily quoted her as saying today. Nancy, who is vice-chief of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s women’s wing, said the additional seats must be distributed evenly and take into account the state’s various ethnic groups, including Malays, Ibans, Bidayuhs, Chinese and Orang Ulu. “Each group should have proper representation,” she said. She noted that ethnic representation was among the factors considered when the seats were previously distributed during the tenure of former Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud. “For example, they looked at which groups among the Orang Ulu had yet to be represented if the Kelabit and Kenyah were already represented,” she said. Nancy said the seat distribution would ultimately be decided by PBB’s top leadership. The Sarawak state assembly in July passed a bill to increase the number of assembly seats from 82 to 99. However, the change will only take effect once approved by Parliament and the seat map is redrawn by the Election Commission in a redelineation process. Gabungan Parti Sarawak secretary-general and Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi said last month that no clear timeframe has been determined for when the bill will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat. He said he was also unsure whether the additional seats could be implemented in time for the next state assembly polls which must be held by February 2027.