Abang Jo stays tight-lipped on timing of Sarawak’s increase in state seats

 The state premier says he has no issue facing the next state election with the current number of seats.

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said the proposed increase in the number of state assembly seats does not necessarily mean the next election will have to be contested with 99 seats. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg has remained tight-lipped on whether the proposed increase in the number of state assembly seats will take effect before the next state election.

He said the proposed increase did not necessarily mean the next election would have to be contested with 99 seats.

“If it is 82, then 82. If it is 99, then 99. There is no problem.

“If there is no time, or if the timeframe is too tight, what can you do? You just follow the present (seat number),” he was quoted by DayakDaily as saying in Kuching today.

Abang Johari had been asked about the latest developments concerning the proposed addition of 17 state seats, which would increase the total from 82 to 99.

In July last year, the state assembly passed a bill to add 17 new state seats, subject to the Election Commission’s redelineation process.

Last month, deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof said the proposal to add 17 seats to the state assembly was unlikely to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this year.

He said the matter must go through several processes under the EC, including public display exercises to allow for objections or feedback.

On Saturday, women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri said she and works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi had pressed the Cabinet to act on Sarawak’s plans for 17 additional state seats. - FMT