“Sarawak is not demanding too much”, says Santubong MP over 17 new seats

Nancy fields questions from reporters during the Pekema Sarawak’s Raya Shopping with Asnaf Children programme at Aeon Mall Kuching Central on March 8, 2026.

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, March 8: Sarawak is not demanding too much in seeking 17 additional State seats, says Santubong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

She said the State is only asking for what is necessary to facilitate governance and better serve its people, given Sarawak’s vast size and diverse communities.

“I have seen some comments saying Sarawak is asking for too much, but it is not about that. Sarawak is only asking for what is rightfully ours, to make administration easier and help the people.

“That is why we are making this request. After all, we have every right to ask that it be considered in a fair and equitable manner,” she said after officiating the Association of Malay Importers and Traders of Motor Vehicles Malaysia (Pekema) Sarawak’s Raya Shopping with Asnaf Children programme at Aeon Mall Kuching Central today.

She was commenting on the proposed increase of Sarawak’s State constituencies from 82 to 99, which would add 17 new seats. The bill was passed by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on July 7, 2025, but will only take effect after Parliament gives approval and the Election Commission completes the delineation process. The proposal has drawn criticism from some observers who say the State is asking for too many seats.

Nancy, who also serves as Federal Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, added that if the additional seats are approved, their distribution must be carried out fairly and take into account the State’s various ethnic groups.

“Sarawak comprises many communities, including Malays, Ibans, Bidayuhs, Chinese and Orang Ulu, and each group should have proper representation,” she added.

Recalling how seat distribution was handled during the tenure of the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, she said ethnic representation had been among the factors considered.

“For example, among the Orang Ulu communities, if the Kelabit and Kenyah were already represented, they would look at which groups had yet to be represented,” she pointed out.

She added that the same principle applied to other communities such as Malays, Ibans and Bidayuhs, noting that the Bidayuh community itself comprises several subgroups depending on the areas identified.

At the same time, the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women vice-chief stressed that how the proposed seats would ultimately be distributed should be decided by the party’s top leadership, as she does not have detailed information.

“The best people to answer this are still the PBB top leadership because I do not have much information about it,” she emphasised.

Earlier during the event, Nancy presented gift vouchers worth RM240 to 100 asnaf children, with another batch of 150 children scheduled to receive the same in the near future.

Nancy (standing fourth right) and others photographed during the symbolic presentation of gift vouchers to asnaf children at the Raya Shopping with Asnaf Children programme held at Aeon Mall Kuching Central on March 8, 2026.

According to Pekema Sarawak president Dato Ismail Abang Saufi, the “Raya Shopping” concept was chosen to give the children the experience of selecting their own Raya clothes and accessories.

“We don’t just want to donate; we want to give them joy, confidence, and sweet memories ahead of Syawal,” he said. — DayakDaily