Nanta: Move to table Sarawak’s additional 17 DUN seats in Parliament ‘being worked on’

KUCHING (Feb 7): Efforts to bring the matter of Sarawak’s additional 17 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats to Parliament are currently “being worked on,” said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

Nanta, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) secretary-general, said detailed information on the matter must first be obtained before it can be made public.

“At this stage, we do not yet have any information in regards to this,” he said at a press conference after attending GPS Supreme Leadership Council Meeting at PBB’s headquarters here on Saturday.

The Works Minister added that with the current timeline, the exact date for it to happen remains uncertain.

When asked whether the timing of bringing the increase to Parliament was related to a possible upcoming state election, he said: “That is up to the Premier (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg).”

The addition of the 17 seats were by the state DUN on July 7, 2025 and came into force on Aug 8, 2025.

Deputy prime minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof in July last year described the increase as the “right move” based on the needs of the state, which has an area almost equal to Peninsular Malaysia.

He said the decision was based on research and debate at the state level, taking into account factors such as geographical size, ethnic diversity and administrative needs, and not solely on population numbers.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said also stated that the Election Commission (EC) is at final stages of preparing its proposals for the redelineation review for the state.