By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 9: Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang has questioned the sincerity of Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak lawmakers in seeking greater parliamentary representation for Sarawak when they refused to support foundational reforms in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) itself.
“How do we restore Sarawak’s one-third representation in Parliament if we don’t first increase our voice in our own Dewan? How can we demand fairness in Putrajaya when we won’t even give ourselves fairer representation in our Dewan Undangan Sarawak?” Lo asked in a statement today, following the uproar that erupted during the debate on the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 on Monday (July 7).
Lo’s remarks came in response to opposition lawmakers, Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen and Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong, who voted against the Bill to increase Sarawak’s State seats from 82 to 99, a move described as the largest expansion in Sarawak’s legislative history.
Lo pointed out that the august House witnessed a “moment of truth and a moment of shame” during the one-day special sitting as the opposition duo had failed to rise above partisan politics to support a measure critical to strengthening Sarawak’s legislative voice and autonomy.
“And the shame is they had the chance to stand for Sarawak, and they chose to play politics instead.
“I never said they opposed more parliamentary seats for Sarawak. What I said, and I stand by it, is that they refused to support the very Bill that lays the groundwork for us to justify more parliamentary seats in the future. That is not a lie. That is a fact,” he asserted.
He likened Chong’s position to wanting to climb a mountain while refusing to take the first step, stressing that the Bill represents more than just numerical growth.
“This Bill is a vital institutional reform; a move to modernise Sarawak’s legislature in line with our growing autonomy, responsibilities, and development scale. With more elected representatives, we can expand our legislative functions, scrutinise ministries and statutory bodies more effectively, and improve public accountability and service delivery,” Lo added.
Citing Singapore’s 99 members of Parliament for a far smaller land area, he argued that Sarawak, with its vast territory, scattered populations, and complex rural challenges, deserves the same level of legislative representation.
Lo also rebutted Chong’s statement that he would support an increase in parliamentary seats if it were tabled in Parliament, pointing out that the Dewan Rakyat is not under Sarawak’s control.
“Who controls Parliament? Not Sarawak. Not Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). The federal government does. And DAP is part of it. If Chong and Yong are so committed, where is the Bill? Where is the motion? Where is the pressure on the Election Commission (EC)?” he challenged.
During the heated special one-day sitting, Chong was suspended from the Dewan after defying the Speaker and disrupting the debate.
“That behaviour is not the Sarawak Way. The Sarawak Way is respect, integrity, and unity in the face of historic injustice,” Lo said, stressing that the Bill is ultimately about justice, autonomy, and fulfilling what was promised under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He urged Sarawakians, especially voters in Padungan and Pending, to reflect on their representatives’ actions.
“Are you proud of how your representatives behaved today? Are you proud that they stood against greater representation for Sarawak? Because I am not. And I believe history will remember this day as the day when some of us stood up for Sarawak, and others sat down and shouted instead,” he said.
Lo concluded with a call to put Sarawak first and to never again allow politics to undermine the State’s future. — DayakDaily
