No timeframe on tabling of Sarawak’s 17 new state seats, says Nanta

No timeframe on tabling of Sarawak’s 17 new state seats, says Nanta

The GPS secretary-general says he has no update as the process is still being discussed by the relevant parties.

GPS secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi said he is not sure if the additional seats could be ready in time for the next Sarawak elections. (Bernama pic)
KUCHING:
There is no clear timeframe for when a bill to add 17 seats to the Sarawak state assembly will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, says Alexander Nanta Linggi, secretary-general of Gabungan Parti Sarawak, the state’s ruling coalition.

Nanta, who is also Kapit MP, said there is no information on when the proposal will be presented, as the process is still being discussed by the relevant parties.

“We do not have any information yet,” he said briefly when met by reporters after attending a meeting of the GPS Supreme Council, chaired by coalition leader Abang Johari Openg here today.

Nanta was also not sure whether the additional seats could be implemented in time for elections for a new state assembly, which must be held by February 2027.

Nanta said the matter has been discussed and is being worked on, but no further details can be shared at this stage.

In July last year, the Sarawak state assembly passed a bill to increase the number of state assembly seats to 99 from the current 82.

Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said was recently reported to have said that any decision on the implementation of a redelineation review would only be determined by the Election Commission after the completion of an eight-year period.

For Sarawak, she said the eight-year period for the state’s redelineation exercise ended on Aug 21, 2023.

“The EC is in the process of preparing its proposed redelineation review for the state before proceeding with the next steps as provided under the Federal Constitution,” she added.

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