Bintulu voters object to Batu Niah as fifth DUN seat

BINTULU: More than 100 electors from Bintulu parliamentary (P217) have objected to the proposed inclusion of Batu Niah as the parliamentary constituency’s fifth state seat, proposing a Bintulu-based alternative.

Spokesperson Muhammad Ali Mohamad Asfia said the group did not oppose an additional DUN seat for Bintulu but disagreed with the proposed inclusion of Batu Niah constituency.

Muhammad Ali.

“We do not object to Bintulu receiving a fifth DUN seat. Our objection is to the choice of Batu Niah as that additional seat,” he said during a meeting with the voters from Bintulu on Sunday (Sept 27).

He said Batu Niah was part of Sibuti parliamentary (P218) and proposed creating a new state constituency using polling districts within Bintulu parliamentary.

The proposed constituency would draw polling districts from Bintulu’s four existing state constituencies, with the aim of achieving relatively equal numbers of electors across the five seats.

Muhammad Ali said Bintulu parliamentary had more than 100,000 voters, adding that its growing electorate and industrial development supported the case for a Bintulu-based alternative.

He cited developments including Bintulu Port, Kidurong and Samalaju Industrial Park, as well as expanding residential areas, which he said had shaped local communities, accessibility and administrative needs.

Bintulu’s urban, industrial, semi-urban and rural communities had different settlement patterns and local requirements that should be considered in the proposed boundaries.

The group urged the Election Commission (SPR) to assess voting convenience, administrative facilities, elector distribution, rural considerations and the preservation of local ties.

They also called on SPR to reconsider Batu Niah’s inclusion and assess the proposed Bintulu-based constituency through the local inquiry process, taking into account official polling district boundaries, elector data from September and evidence of accessibility and local ties.