By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 22: A constitutional amendment to enlarge the Sarawak Cabinet members will be among the key Bills tabled at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting next week.
DUS Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which is to be tabled by Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, seeks to revise provisions relating to the number of ministers who may be appointed to the Sarawak Cabinet.
Asfia said the amendments are necessary following the recent expansion of the DUS from 82 to 99 seats, which has significantly increased legislative, administrative and policy workload.
“It is high time to increase the number of Cabinet members. How many will be added, I will leave it to the Premier (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg) to announce on that day.
“I will not disclose here how many Honourable Ministers will be increased, except to say that the Cabinet will be enlarged to accommodate more ministers. This does not affect the deputy ministers,” he told a press conference held at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here today.
Asfia further said several ministers currently hold two portfolios, and some even three, resulting in lengthy winding-up speeches that make it necessary to increase the number of ministers and split certain portfolios.
“There may be some views expressed against the increase, but legal theories must yield to political reality. The political reality is that Sarawak needs a bigger Cabinet,” he asserted.
He also clarified that all existing ministries will be retained, with their names and functions unchanged.
“The Premier will determine the reassignment of portfolios once the amendment is passed,” he added.
Aside from the constitutional amendment, Asfia said the sitting will also see the tabling of Supply (2026) Bill, 2025 by the Premier; Supplementary Supply (2025) Bill, 2025 and Sustainable Resources and Wastes Management Bill, 2025 by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas; and the Building (Amendment) Bill, 2025 by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian. – DayakDaily
