By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 10: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg says he has no issue whether the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) has 82 or 99 seats, but stops short of indicating whether the proposed increase will take effect before the next Sarawak election.
“Nothing is a problem for me. If it is 82, then 82. If it is 99, then 99. There is no problem,” he told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony for Regency Specialist Hospital Kuching at the Northbank project site here today.
He said the proposed increase in seats did not necessarily mean the next election would be contested using all 99 seats.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean we will use 99 for the election. If there is no time of if the window is very tight, what can you do? You just follow the present one. No problem,” he added.
Abang Johari was responding to questions on the latest development concerning the proposed addition of 17 State seats, which would increase the number from the current 82 to 99.
The issue resurfaced after Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had instructed the Election Commission (EC) to submit an updated report on the proposal following discussions at a recent Cabinet meeting.
Fahmi had also said several processes still needed to be completed before the matter could be brought back to the Cabinet, leaving open the question of whether the proposed increase could be implemented before the next Sarawak State election.
When pressed on whether the 99-seat configuration would be used for the coming election, Abang Johari remained tight-lipped.
“Aih, I don’t know when the election is!” he said with a laugh before thanking reporters and ending the brief exchange.
The Sarawak Legislative Assembly passed a Bill on July 7, 2025 to increase the number of State seats from 82 to 99, paving the way for the addition of 17 constituencies subject to the completion of the required electoral and constitutional processes.
On Aug 4, DayakDaily reported on a leaked EC letter addressed to the Office of the Premier of Sarawak dated June 25, 2026, and signed by Sarawak EC director Abang Noraffian Abang Ibrahim, seeking exhibition space from local authorities to display the proposed electoral boundary maps under the State’s re-delineation exercise.
The exercise would increase the number of Sarawak State seats from 82 to 99, with an appendix to the letter listing the proposed new and renamed constituencies. Among the proposed new State seats are Tabuan Jaya, Maong, Samarindah, Sungai Serin, Tanah Mas and Tudan, while the existing Igan parliamentary constituency would be renamed Batang Lassa. — DayakDaily
