GPS is in no rush on Sarawak election dates, pending Parliament’s nod to expand state seats from 82 to 99

KUCHING: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government is in no hurry to lock in a date for the upcoming Sarawak State Election, even as the current State Legislative Assembly term draws closer to its expiry in December this year.

Sarawak state assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Idris Buang (pic) made clear that GPS remains focused on one key prerequisite — securing the necessary approvals to expand the number of state constituencies from the present 82 to 99 — before committing to an election timeline.

“GPS is not under any pressure to review the next state election dates. The Premier will make this decision but we would like to see the seat increase approved before we announce the state polls,” Idris told reporters on the sidelines of a Ramadan bazaar event in Kuching.

The proposed expansion has already cleared its first legislative hurdle at the state level. On July 7 last year, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly passed the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, which was tabled by Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the state assemblyman for Asajaya.

However, the bill still requires Parliament’s endorsement before the Election Commission can proceed with the redelineation process.

“Parliament is the ultimate authority to approve the increase of Sarawak seats from the present 82. If Parliament does not approve in time for the impending Sarawak State Elections, we will go to the polls with the current arrangement of 82 seats,” Idris said.

He expressed hope that the matter would be tabled and resolved in Parliament without delay.

Idris, who also serves as the GPS state assemblyman for Muara Tuang near Kuching, underscored the practical necessity of the expansion.

He pointed to Sarawak’s complex geography, its vast rural constituencies, and a significant surge in the voter base following the reduction of the minimum voting age from 21 to 18 as key reasons why broader representation is both timely and necessary.

“This vast state has large rural constituencies that must have better representation,” he said.

The constitutional basis for the exercise is also well-established. When tabling the bill last year, Karim cited Article 113(2) of the Federal Constitution, which permits a review of electoral boundaries in a state after eight years. Sarawak’s last redelineation exercise was carried out in 2015, making the current effort both legally permissible and long overdue.

As it stands, GPS holds a commanding majority in the state assembly, controlling 80 of the 82 seats. The remaining two — Padungan and Pending — are held by Sarawak DAP. The current assembly term is due to expire on December 18, 2026.

 The Sun Malaysia