Kuching: DAP Sarawak has voiced opposition to a leaked document detailing Sarawak’s electoral boundary redelineation plan, describing it as “severely unfair” and unbalanced.
Chairman Chong Chieng Jen made the remarks during a media interview after attending a press conference for the SPM 2025 Excellent Rewards’ Initiative jointly organised by the P195 Bandar Kuching and P196 Stampin Service Centre.
According to Chong, with Sarawak’s voters now nearing two million, any future increase in state assembly seats to around 99 or 100 should result in constituencies averaging about 20,000 voters each.
“A reasonable variation of about 30 per cent is acceptable, meaning each constituency should have between 15,000 and 25,000 voters to ensure fair representation,” he said.
However, Chong said the leaked draft proposal reportedly shows significant disparities.
“The proposed Opar constituency is said to have only around 10,000 voters, while Senadin could have as many as 70,000 voters.
“This is a huge disparity. No matter how it is explained, I cannot accept this demarcation as fair,” he said, adding that the party has formally conveyed its objections to the Election Commission.
Chong also criticised the apparent imbalance in seat allocation between parliamentary constituencies.
“Kuching, with more than 100,000 registered voters, was not allocated any additional state seats under the proposal, while Petra Jaya, despite having a similar number of voters, was granted two extra seats.
“On the surface, this is clearly an unfair arrangement,” he said.
He stressed that DAP Sarawak would not remain silent over what it considers unjust constituency delineation, in contrast to other parties such as SUPP and MCA, which it accused of remaining quiet on similar issues in the past.
“We will definitely fight for our rights,” he said.
He also noted that the redelineation bill must ultimately be tabled in Parliament and requires the support of at least 112 Members of Parliament to pass – a fixed threshold that differs from ordinary bills, which are decided by a simple majority of those present.
“In other words, even if fewer MPs are present and all vote in favour, the bill will still fail if it does not meet the minimum requirement of 112 votes,” he explained.
