“If EC decides so, by all means cut it in half” — Pantai Damai rep ready for possible seat split

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, March 9: Pantai Damai assemblyman Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said he will respect any decision by the Election Commission (EC) on constituency boundaries, amid speculation that his seat could be split to form one of 17 additional State seats in Sarawak.

He brushed off the reports as rumours and said they must first be verified before any comment.

“In any situation, we will abide by any decision made by the government, especially by the EC.

“If they decide that Pantai Damai already has 40,000 voters and they choose to cut it in half, by all means cut it in half,” he told reporters at the launch of the Satok Aidilfitri Bazaar this evening.

Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) treasurer-general, further stressed that his party will comply with any official decision by the EC.

“We, PBB members and PBB committee, are always ready for that,” he added.

The Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Project Coordinator for Regional Development Agencies, Kuching North City Commission and Islamic Affairs) was responding to a leaked document purportedly detailing the proposed creation of 17 new State constituencies in Sarawak.

According to the document, Pantai Damai, home to 39,943 voters, could be affected in the redelineation exercise to form a new constituency named “Sejinjang”.

If the expansion goes ahead, Pantai Damai would be left with 21,179 voters, while the new Sejinjang constituency would have 18,764.

Electoral boundary reviews and seat distributions in Malaysia fall under the EC’s jurisdiction. Any proposal must first be reviewed by the commission, and new boundaries will only take effect after approval by the Dewan Rakyat and the Redelineation Order receives the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. — DayakDaily

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