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Wan Ahmad notes that while the EC retains full authority to initiate any redelineation process, the state’s decision appears to carry clear political intent. – Bernama photo

KUCHING (July 11): Former Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Wan Omar has described the Sarawak government’s move to expand the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) by 17 seats as a political strategy likely aimed at prompting the EC to consider increasing the number of parliamentary constituencies, in line with Sarawak’s efforts to restore one-third representation in Parliament under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

He noted that while the EC retains full authority to initiate any redelineation process, the state’s decision appears to carry clear political intent.

“If the state assembly has already passed the decision to increase the number of seats, it is clear the EC will have to redraw and adjust constituency boundaries,” he said in a Free Malaysia Today (FMT) report today.

“This includes potentially creating additional parliamentary seats to meet the terms agreed under the MA63 (Malaysia Agreement of 1963),” he added.

Wan Ahmad also highlighted the financial implications of such an expansion, pointing out that additional administrative and development funding would be required.

“Allocations for 17 new seats, infrastructure development, and other associated costs will increase tremendously.

“However, one positive aspect is that the creation of new constituencies could accelerate economic development in these areas,” he said.

Currently, Sarawak holds 31 of the 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat — just under 14 per cent — far from the one-third threshold that the state is seeking to restore as part of its constitutional rights under MA63.

On Monday, the Sarawak DUN passed the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, increasing the number of state assembly seats from 82 to 99.

By comparison, the last redelineation exercise in 2015 added 11 state constituencies.

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