A leader from Sarawak has urged federal authorities to recognize the necessity of creating additional seats for the Sarawak state assembly, citing the state’s immense geographical scale rather than its population density.
Speaking in Kuching, state assembly Speaker Asfia Awang Nassar expressed his hope that the federal government and the Election Commission (EC) would understand the unique requirements of the region. He emphasized that the sheer size of Sarawak warrants more constituencies to ensure effective governance and representation.
In July last year, the state assembly approved a bill intended to increase the number of state constituencies from 82 to 99. This proposal is currently being reviewed by the EC, which is studying the necessity of redrawing seat boundaries. Following this study, the matter must be presented to Parliament for final approval before it can be implemented.
Challenges of vast constituencies
Asfia, who spoke to reporters during a Hari Raya open house, highlighted the impracticality of the current electoral map. He pointed to Bintulu as a primary example, noting it is the largest parliamentary constituency in Sarawak, where a single parliamentary seat currently encompasses four state assembly constituencies.
He argued that such a large area should be split into two parliamentary zones, as it is difficult for a single Member of Parliament to manage an area covering four state seats. He also recalled the logistical difficulties of the past, noting that traveling across the Rajang parliamentary area once required a helicopter to refuel four times, while the Baram area required three stops.
Asfia contended that approval for new seats should not be based solely on population metrics. He noted that in coastal regions, for example, the movement of fishermen across boundaries makes population-based delineation less effective and practical for the local community.
Regional representation in Malaysia
Support for a swift review of the proposal has also come from the federal level. On March 8, the minister for Sabah and Sarawak, Mustapha Sakmud, expressed his hope that the EC could accelerate its study regarding the Sarawak proposal.
The discussion highlights the disparity in representation across the country. Currently, Malaysia’s 13 state assemblies consist of approximately 600 seats, the majority of which are located in West Malaysia.
Sarawak is the largest region in Malaysia, covering about 124,450 square kilometers, which accounts for 37.6 percent of the nation’s total land area. Despite its size, it currently has 82 state seats. In comparison, Sabah covers 74,000 square kilometers with 73 seats, while the 11 state assemblies in West Malaysia, which together cover about 132,000 square kilometers, hold approximately 450 seats.
