The Election Commission will unveil the names and locations of 17 proposed new Sarawak state constituencies as part of a redelineation exercise that could expand the state assembly from 82 to 99 seats.
Notices on the proposed seats, as well as the renaming of several existing constituencies, will be published in The Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo and displayed at selected locations statewide beginning tomorrow.
The proposals will be open for public objections and representations for one month, in line with the Federal Constitution. The state government, affected local authorities or groups of at least 100 registered voters in the constituencies concerned may submit objections.
The Sarawak legislative assembly approved the addition of 17 seats in July last year, citing population growth, urban expansion and the need for more equitable representation.
However, Parliament must first approve and gazette the proposed seats for use in the next state election due next year.
A state of emergency would be declared in affected parts of Sarawak should the Air Pollutant Index (API) there exceed 500, said Sarawak Deputy Premier Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Douglas Uggah Embas All offices as well as public and private sectors in the affected areas will be closed should the emergency be declared, with only essential services allowed to operate.
The matter will then be referred to the National Disaster Management Agency in Kuala Lumpur for further action.
A cloud seeding operation will be carried out from Sept 3 to 5, subject to weather conditions, to suppress the haze and replenish depleting water catchment areas.
The statement comes as the Environment Department reported “hazardous” API readings in four monitoring stations in the state, reaching as high as 476 in Serian at 8am today. Other areas with hazardous readings are Sarikei, Sri Aman, and Samarahan.
The Finance Ministry has cited better supply management as among the factors behind the government’s decision to restore the monthly fuel subsidy quota under the Budi Madani programme from tomorrow.
The ministry in a statement said the decision to raise the quota from 200 litres to 300 litres a month for recipients of Budi95 and BudiDiesel also took into account stricter enforcement, strong economic performance and the government’s financial capacity.
“The move also considered the needs of those who have to travel long distances for their daily affairs as well as small traders who rely on vehicles to earn a living.
“The government will continue to ensure that fuel subsidies are channelled to eligible Malaysians, while strengthening efforts to curb leakages, smuggling and misuse,” it said.
The government reduced the monthly Budi95 quota from 300 litres to 200 litres effective April 1 as a temporary measure amid higher global crude prices and supply chain disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has urged the government to review its taxation and subsidy rationalisation policies, saying they have a direct impact on the cost-of-living pressures faced by the public.
He said this should form part of broader measures under Budget 2027 to ease living costs, support businesses and spur economic growth.
Muhyiddin also welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s latest measures, including raising the monthly RON95 subsidy eligibility limit from 200 litres to 300 litres and increasing the e-Invoicing exemption threshold to businesses with annual sales of up to RM3 million.
Muhyiddin Yassin He said the measures could ease household and business costs, while other initiatives involving school maintenance, healthcare digitalisation, AI software access for youths, microcredit and grants for small traders could improve public service delivery and support micro, small and medium enterprises.
Muhyiddin added that the relevant ministries and agencies should disburse the allocations quickly and ensure the aid reaches eligible recipients. - Mkini
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