MIRI – The federal authorities are said to have tentatively given the green light for the creation of two new large parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak, even as several more new seats are under consideration.
These two tentatively approved seats are in Miri and in Hulu Rejang districts.
Sarawak PKR adviser Dr Michael Teo told The Vibes that the Election Commission (EC) has already discussed this with the federal government, at the top level, which has tentatively given assent for the move.
“The latest situation based on the information I have is that the existing parliamentary constituencies of Miri in northern Sarawak and Hulu Rajang in central Sarawak will be re-delineated soon.
“Each of them will be divided into two constituencies, meaning that the Miri district will have two parliamentary seats and Hulu Rajang district will also have two seats.
“So far, these two areas have been tentatively approved while discussions are pending with other seats,” he said in an interview on new seats.
Dr Teo, who is former Miri two-term MP, is presently functioning as adviser to Sarawak PKR.
He said that based on the preliminary information he has obtained, the northern portion of the Miri district that comprises the Senadin state constituency and the Kuala Baram industrial area, adjacent to the border with Brunei, will become one new parliamentary seat.
“The Miri parliamentary seat today has a population of about 370,000. It is a big seat,” he said.
“That is why a new parliamentary seat is needed.”
“As for Hulu Rajang, it is due to its huge size that a new seat is needed in order to serve the people better,” he said.
Hulu Rajang has a massive land size of some 35,000 sq km, with a population of about 50,000 spread across the vast terrain.
On November 6, Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), the main component of state ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak, passed a resolution seeking the creation of many more new state and parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak.
The PBB delegates at its central Sarawak special party convention in town reasoned that Sarawak needs new seats to meet the increase in its population.
PBB vice-president Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said there is a need for the federal authorities to allow Sarawak to have additional state and parliamentary seats.
Currently, Sarawak has 82 state constituencies and 31 parliamentary seats.
Dr Annuar, who chaired the convention, said the current seats at both federal and state levels needed to be re-delineated as soon as possible.
“We need more seats so that the people can be served better,” he said. – The Vibes, November 11, 2023
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