By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 16: The 17 new State seats endorsed by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) are likely to be contested together with the upcoming 13th Sarawak Election (PRN13) rather than through separate by-elections.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information Chief Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah explained that the Election Commission (EC) must respect the decision of the legislature, which had already passed the law to increase the number of seats from 82 to 99.
“If there is not enough time for the 17 seats, as much as possible the EC must still respect it.
“The Legislative Assembly is the highest law-making body. If we have passed the law to add more seats, it must be respected too,” he told reporters during a doorstep interview after officiating the DayakDaily’s ‘Homestay Odyssey’ Writing Competition Awards Ceremony held at Waterfront Hotel here today.
Abdul Karim who is the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak and Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak, pointed out that government functions are shared among three key organs—the legislature, judiciary and executive—and it would not be proper for the EC to disregard the decision of the legislature.
“I believe it (17 new seats and Sarawak election) will go together. Unless something very crucial happens, such as a vote of no confidence against the government, which would trigger a fresh election, then probably the timeline for the 17 might not be met.
“Because apart from EC conducting the survey on the ground, it also has to be endorsed by Parliament,” he explained.
On July 22, 2025, the DUS had passed the law to create 17 new State constituencies, which will only take effect after Parliament gives its approval and the EC completes the delineation process. – DayakDaily
