By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 12: Neutrality must never become an excuse for bureaucratic inertia when the whole of Sarawak is waiting for a decision by the Election Commission, says a social media activist has pointed out.
Abang Zaabar Abang Ballia in coming to Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar’s defence, agreed with the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) Sarawak which spoke of neutrality and public confidence. However, he warned that “neutrality must never become an excuse for bureaucratic inertia”.
On May 9 (Saturday), Asfia held a press conference at PBB headquarters to brief the media on upcoming DUS which is to be held from May 11 to 20, 2026.
During the press conference, when the media asked for an update on the approved 17 new seats, Asfia said that the Bill on the 17 new State seats had been passed during the previous sitting on July 7, 2025, and was therefore subject to Standing Order 32(3), which prevented any specific question already concluded by DUS from being reconsidered in the same session.
He explained that Standing Order 32(3) stated that it would be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the Dewan had come to a conclusion during the current session, except upon a substantive motion for rescission.
Asfia continued to say that while the EC is still within its constitutional timeframe to complete its duties, it must also take into account the approaching State election.
He was quoted stating that —“Months have passed with no word whether the 17 new seats are in time for the election this year”.
On the composition of the EC, Asfia claimed that the ruling coalition GPS does not have representation in the EC, aside from what he described as a “lone Sarawakian member” who is not from GPS.
He said GPS would continue to function as “the voice of the voiceless” within such national institutions, adding that the EC should be more dynamic and responsive in carrying out its responsibilities.
In response, Bersih Sarawak was quoted on May 12 as saying it was “baffled” by Asfia’s comments regarding GPS having no representation in the EC
The civil society organisation (CSO) was quoted as perturbed by Asfia’s statement about the “lone Sarawakian member in the EC not from GPS”.
In the statement, Bersih Sarawak said that the Election Commission (EC), as the only body responsible for conducting elections, must remain free from the influence of any party, especially political parties and the executive at both state and federal levels, in carrying out its constitutional duties.
It added that Article 114(2) of the Federal Constitution states that the appointment of EC members lies with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, who must take into account the importance of ensuring an EC that enjoys public confidence.
The group further said that achieving public confidence requires commissioners to be neutral and not favour any party, meaning they should not be affiliated with any political party, whether currently or in the past.
It emphasised that the EC, as the only body responsible for conducting elections, must remain free from the influence of any party, particularly political parties and the executive (whether at the state or federal level), in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
To Abang Zaabar, what Sarawakians are questioning today is not the EC’s neutrality, but its sense of urgency and professionalism.
“If the EC can move swiftly on matters elsewhere, why should Sarawak continue waiting in uncertainty despite the DUS having already fulfilled its constitutional role? The issue here is simple — that delay has consequences,” said Abang Zaabar in a statement.
He said the delay in completing the re-delineation exercise potentially deprives the people in the proposed new constituencies from obtaining fairer and more effective representation.
“It delays administrative efficiency, slows targeted development planning, and prolongs the burden faced by elected representatives who currently manage extremely large constituencies with scattered populations and poor accessibility.
“Tan Sri Asfia’s remarks therefore should be viewed as a legitimate institutional concern voiced by the Speaker of the August House, reflecting the frustrations felt by many Sarawakians who believe the re-delineation process should have progressed much faster,” said Abang Zaabar
He believed that no reasonable person is asking for the EC to become partisan or to be controlled by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“That is not what the Speaker said, nor what he implied. What Tan Sri Asfia highlighted was a legitimate concern over the prolonged delay and apparent lack of urgency by the EC in dealing with a matter that has already been constitutionally approved by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.
“The Speaker’s frustration is understandable,” said Abang Zaabar.
He pointed out that Sarawak is not merely another state in Peninsular Malaysia. It is geographically vast, administratively challenging, and developmentally unique.
“Many constituencies in Sarawak are excessively large, remote and difficult to administer effectively. The proposal to increase the number of seats from 82 to 99 was not a whimsical political exercise, but a practical and long overdue effort to improve representation, governance delivery and development outreach to underserved areas.
“The delay by the EC inevitably raises questions,” said Abang Zaabar. —DayakDaily
