Kuching: SUPP Political Secretary to the Premier Kho Teck Wan should formally object to the Election Commission (EC) over the proposed electoral boundaries instead of asking voters to collect signatures, said DAPSY Sarawak Secretary George Lam.
Lam said Kho, who recently described the proposed division of the RPR Batu Kawah area into three state constituencies as unreasonable, should raise the matter directly at the Sarawak Government level.
“If the Sarawak Government can submit an objection directly to the EC, there is no reason for this issue to be left entirely to ordinary voters,” he said in a statement.
He said the EC’s proposed boundaries would also divide the Kenyalang community, comprising four polling districts — Simpang Tiga, Chong Kiun Kong, Kenyalang and Supreme — across three state constituencies.
Under the proposal, Simpang Tiga would fall under Padungan, Chong Kiun Kong would remain under Pending, while Kenyalang and Supreme would be placed under the newly created Tabuan Jaya constituency.
Lam said the arrangement could split a geographically and socially connected community across different constituencies.
He said DAP Sarawak had already begun collecting signatures from voters to submit its objections and would also submit recommendations to the EC.
Lam pointed out that objections could be submitted directly by the Sarawak Government or local authorities, while 100 voters could also support a representative to appear before the EC.
He also questioned why additional parliamentary seats had not accompanied Sarawak’s increase from 82 to 99 state seats.
“This raises questions about the claim that increasing state seats would serve as leverage for greater parliamentary representation,” he said.
Lam urged the EC to redraw boundaries based on population, geography, community ties and administrative convenience, rather than political considerations.
He called on Kho and the GPS Government to formally object during the public display period.
“Sarawak does not need additional seats merely for political distribution. What Sarawak needs is an electoral system that genuinely reflects the will of the people,” he said.
