Kuching: The Election Commission (EC) must provide immediate answers when there are significant disparities in the number of voters between DUN constituencies in Sarawak so that the public can gain a clearer understanding of the basis and rationale behind the proposed redelineation currently on display, said Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol.
He said some rural constituencies have only around 10,000 to 11,000 voters, while urban constituencies such as Piasau have nearly 35,000 voters, raising questions about the balance of representation between constituencies.
According to him, EC must also explain why a reasonable range of around 15,000 to 25,000 voters has not been applied consistently in the formation of new and existing DUN constituencies.
“What is EC’s technical justification for such an extreme representation gap?” he asked in a statement today.
Mordi also questioned the distribution of the 17 new DUN seats, saying it should be examined in terms of voter density.
He said parliamentary constituencies such as Kuching, Stampin, and Miri, each with more than 100,000 voters, have received uneven increases in new DUN seats compared with other areas with smaller voter populations.
He also wants EC to explain the criteria used when moving a DUN area in or out of a parliamentary constituency, including whether such decisions are genuinely based on geographical accessibility and administrative convenience for the public.
He said these questions are important to ensure that the redelineation process does not create the perception that electoral boundaries are being designed to give a particular party a political advantage.
At the same time, Mordi urged EC to explain its next steps regarding the redelineation of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak.
He said Members of Parliament currently have to manage vast constituencies comprising four to five DUN seats. Therefore, an increase in parliamentary seats should be implemented in parallel to ensure more effective service delivery to the people.
Mordi stressed that he does not oppose the proposed addition of 17 DUN seats but emphasised that the increase in seats must be accompanied by a redelineation process that is fair, transparent and free from gerrymandering.
“Electoral boundaries must not be used as a tool to manipulate election results, but instead must be based on the democratic principle of ‘one person, one vote’,” he said.
Meanwhile, he also agreed to the inclusion of DUN Serembu within the Mas Gading parliamentary constituency, based on historical, cultural, and linguistic ties, as well as the close local relationship among the Bidayuh community, who conduct their affairs in Bau.
“However, in terms of voter ratio, although most constituencies under Mas Gading appear relatively balanced, DUN Serembu only reaches around 76.6% of the supposed average ratio of registered voters.
“DUN Serembu needs an expansion of its area or an increase in voters to achieve a fair and equitable balance,” he said.
He also called on EC to give particular attention to overlapping administrative boundaries, such as DUN Opar, which is located within the Lundu District but has very close socio-cultural and community ties with the Bau District.
The Notice of Proposed Review of the Boundaries of Federal and State Electoral Constituencies in Sarawak is currently on display from 1 to 30 September 2026, with Mordi also urging the public to take the opportunity during this period to examine the proposals and submit objections where necessary.
“I urge community leaders; non-governmental organisations (NGOs); local authorities (PBTs); as well as registered voters in all DUN constituencies to come forward and examine the displayed proposals.
“If there is any dissatisfaction, objection to the naming of constituencies, or suggestion for improvements to the redelineation, please exercise your constitutional right to submit written representations or objections to EC on or before 30 September 2026,” he said.
He added that the voices and participation of all stakeholders are valuable in ensuring that the boundary mapping truly reflects the needs of the people, voting convenience, and the stability of local communities for the future of Sarawak.
