KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 27): The Election Commission (EC) is currently assessing the suitability of a delimitation exercise of Sarawak’s state and parliamentary electoral boundaries, which may alter the number of seats allocated to the state, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

According to the minister in the Prime Minister's Department for law and institutional reform, a review can be undertaken as the eight-year period of Sarawak’s existing electoral boundaries expired in 2023.

“The eight-year period for the review of Sarawak state delimitation ended in 2023 and the EC is considering and assessing the suitability of undertaking the matter,” Azalina said in a written reply in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

Azalina noted that the EC carries out a delimitation review of federal and state constituencies based on the delimitation principles set out in the Federal Constitution.

Among the principles are that the constituencies should not cross state boundaries, and that the number of voters in each constituency should be equal but with a measure of weightage given to rural areas.

Azalina said a delimitation review recommendation will only be initiated after the EC informs the Dewan Rakyat speaker and the prime minister, and a notice will subsequently be gazetted.

The minister was responding to a question from Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew on when the delimitation review of Sarawak's electoral boundaries will begin and how many state and parliamentary constituencies would be added in the state under the review.

Earlier this year, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg reportedly said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) will present recommendations to the EC concerning a possible delimitation exercise in Sarawak.

States in Peninsular Malaysia last completed a delimitation exercise in 2018, while Sarawak and Sabah last completed the exercise in 2015 and 2017 respectively.