GPS leader denies parties allocated Sarawak’s 17 proposed seats

 Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah warns that such claims may be deliberate attempts to confuse the public.

GPS leader Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the state’s 17 proposed assembly seats have yet to be delineated by the Election Commission. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Claims that certain political parties have already been allocated the 17 proposed state seats may be the work of those trying to stir trouble, says a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader.

In a report by the Borneo Post, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah rubbished the claims, saying the rumours were baseless as the Election Commission (EC) had yet to delineate the seats.

“Suddenly, some people are saying, out of 17 seats, 10 are guaranteed for Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), three for Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), and so on.

“I do not think PBB or SUPP has the authority to claim seats at this stage. There are no seats yet. I do not even know where the seats are,” he told a press conference after an event in Kuching.

Civil society groups last week urged Election Commission chairman Ramlan Harun to ensure integrity in Sarawak’s upcoming electoral redelineation following the circulation of a slide deck that allegedly details 17 new state constituencies benefitting GPS.

The deck reportedly outlines which constituencies would gain seats, their ethnic composition, allocation among GPS component parties, and even proposed names for the new constituencies.

The Sarawak state assembly in July passed a bill to increase the number of assembly seats from 82 to 99.

Karim, who is also PBB information chief, urged the public to be cautious about online reports that could sow discord.

“Perhaps these stories were released to ‘porak peranda’ (create confusion) among us,” he said.

“We are still waiting for Parliament’s endorsement. Why are there stories about parties arguing over which seats they will get?” - FMT