KAPIT: There is a proposal to establish four new State Assembly seats in Sarawak, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said today.

This proposal, the Kapit member of Parliament said, comes after the Sarawak government's decision to consider a review of the state assembly seats this year.

He said the proposed new seats would be within three parliamentary constituencies: Kanowit, Kapit and Hulu Rejang.

Nanta, who is also the Works Minister, said the matter has been discussed among GPS representatives to seek approval for establishing these new state seats in the respective regions.

"We have discussed with all GPS party representatives in this area. We have done this several times and agreed to the proposal to establish new Sarawak state seats.

"We propose approximately four (new state seats). It is up to the Election Commission (EC) later.

"(The proposal) includes areas in the Kanowit parliamentary constituency, Kapit parliamentary constituency, and Ulu Rejang parliamentary constituency. These areas are large, hence the proposal for four state seats.

"It's not just in Kapit. I have to clarify this," he said after attending a longhouse opening ceremony here this morning.

In a news report last Saturday, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, said the state was considering a review of the state seats this year.

He said that the proposal included establishing state seats with mixed demographics to ensure representation from all ethnic groups.

In January, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh, announced that the commission was studying the feasibility of conducting a review of all electoral boundary delimitation matters in Sarawak.

Sarawak's electoral boundaries were last reviewed in 2016, resulting in the addition of 11 state seats. With a total of 82 state seats, Sarawak holds the highest number compared to its 31 parliamentary seats.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/05/1050284/gps-pushes-four-new-state-assembly-seats-sarawak