By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 9: Clarity on the status and progress of the electoral re-delineation exercise for the proposed 17 new Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) seats is important to ensure the public understands the process, which involves constitutional and legal aspects.
According to Balingian assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi, the proposal, which seeks to increase the number of State seats from 82 to 99, must be implemented in accordance with the prescribed procedures and legal provisions.
He added that the electoral re-delineation process by the Election Commission (EC), as well as the subsequent process at the parliamentary level, was part of the procedures that must be complied with.
“No one is asking for the procedures to be set aside, but the procedures must be consistent,” he said in a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report.
He also added that an explanation of the status, progress, and timeline for its implementation should be provided to the public as clear information could help avoid confusion and ensure that matters concerning the addition of DUS seats continue to be viewed in light of the actual process and facts.
“The people of Sarawak have the right to know the actual status of the process, what further developments are required and when the process is expected to be completed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Yakub also stressed the importance of viewing issues concerning Sarawak’s constitutional relationship with the federal government through the lens of official records and documents.
He said that matters such as the Territorial Sea Act 1966 (TSA 1966) and the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA 1974) could be studied objectively using Parliamentary Hansard, legislative records, constitutional documents, and relevant official correspondence.
He said a record- and fact-based approach was important to ensure that discussions concerning the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Sarawak-federal relationship were not influenced by perception alone.
“Questions concerning history and the Constitution should be answered based on documents and facts, rather than political rhetoric,” he said.
He also stressed that the implementation of the constitutional process must be based on the principles of transparency, consistency, and mutual respect between the Sarawak and federal governments.
He said matters concerning MA63 and Sarawak’s rights should continue to be discussed through the relevant constitutional and institutional channels to ensure the interests of all parties were protected. — DayakDaily
