By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 25: If countries with bigger populations can be governed with leaner Cabinets, then there is no reason why Sarawak should expand its Cabinet ministers.
In a statement, Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan said that Sarawak’s population of 2.7 million does not warrant an increase in the number of ministers.
He said that even countries with bigger populations and more complex responsibilities operate with leaner Cabinets, such as the United States (330 million people and 15 Cabinet members), Australia (26 million people and 24 ministers), Canada (40 million people and 38 ministers), and China (1.4 billion people, about 26 ministers).
Voon also pressed for the government to disclose the cost of the expansion, as additional ministers call for larger offices, bigger support teams, more official vehicles, additional travel budgets, and higher yearly operational expenses, calling for answers to the following questions:
- What critical responsibilities justify four new ministries?
- Why can’t the existing ministries do their jobs?
- What measurable improvements will the rakyat actually see?
- How much public money will this political expansion drain each year?
“If the administration is truly committed to good governance, it should focus on efficiency, accountability, and real improvements—not padding its Cabinet with more political appointees,” he said.
On Nov 24, the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) passed the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2025, allowing the appointment of not more than four additional members to the Sarawak Cabinet.
Tabled by Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the amendment responds to Sarawak’s growing administrative and governance demands following the increase in constituencies from 82 to 99 under the Members of Sarawak Legislative Assembly (Composition of Members) Ordinance, 2025. — DayakDaily
