Next Sarawak poll may retain 82 seats as 99-seat expansion awaits Parliament approval

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By Karen Bong

KUCHING, Feb 18: The upcoming Sarawak election may still be contested under the existing 82-seat configuration, as the proposed increase to 99 State seats is still awaiting endorsement from the Parliament.

Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah explained that although the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) had unanimously passed the constitutional amendment to increase the number of State constituencies from 82 to 99, the final step requires Parliament’s approval.

“It has been endorsed by the Sarawak Assembly and accepted by Sarawak. But the final endorsement needs to be in the Federal Parliament. We are still waiting for it,” he told a press conference before officiating the flagging-off ceremony for DayakDaily’s D’Drift 2026 today.

He noted that the amendment would require a corresponding change in the Federal Constitution, which lists the number of parliamentary and state seats for each state.

“The Federal Constitution needs to reflect that amendment. Since we have already amended it at the State level, it needs to be endorsed so that the Federal Constitution will give its approval on that side,” he said.

Abdul Karim expressed confidence that Parliament would not reject the move, as it had been unanimously endorsed by Sarawak lawmakers.

“Going against it in Parliament means you don’t respect the wishes of the people of Sarawak that have been unanimously endorsed and accepted in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly. So I can only see support from that side,” he added.

However, he stressed that the process must still go through the formal tabling and approval stages in Parliament.

“If they are not tabling it as yet, then probably the next State election, we might have to still stick to 82 seats. Jangan tunggu lama-lama (But don’t wait too long),” he remarked.

On July 7, 2025, the Sarawak Legislative Assembly passed the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025, marking the largest seat increase in the State’s history.

The move aims to ensure fairer representation across Sarawak’s vast and diverse constituencies and aligns with the State’s broader aspirations under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) framework, which seeks one-third parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak in the Dewan Rakyat.

The next step would involve the Election Commission determining the delineation of the additional 17 seats, subject to parliamentary approval.

On when the next State election might be called, Abdul Karim said the current term of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly runs for five years under the Westminster system.

“The last State election was in December 2021. The five-year term is counted from the first sitting after the election, which was in January 2022. So the present term will end around early 2027,” he explained.

However, he pointed out that in most democratic systems, leaders seldom wait until the very last moment before calling for elections.

“Normally, they won’t drag it right to the end. It can be one year or even two years before the expiry of the tenure that they call for elections,” he said, noting that the 2021 State election was held very close to the end of its term.

This time, he said, Sarawak’s political stability provides room to call the election at any suitable time.

“We can afford to drag it right to the end because Sarawak is very stable. You can feel the nerve of the people. I believe, God willing, we will still be able to get a landslide win. You call it today, we will still be the same,” he said.

He stressed that his remarks were not out of arrogance but based on grassroots sentiment.

“We are quite blessed to be having that kind of support from the people,” he added.

Nevertheless, Abdul Karim emphasised that the final decision on the election date lies with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“The final prerogative rests on the Premier. Whether he wants it in July, September, October, November, December or even January 2027, it’s up to him. But any date that he chooses, God willing, I think everything will be fine for us,” he said. — DayakDaily

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