DAP Sarawak opposes unfair delineation, not seat increase; slams SUPP ‘cover up’

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, April 21: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen has accused Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap of “playing dumb” to deflect attention from what he described as long-standing gerrymandering practices that disadvantage urban voters in Sarawak.

Responding to Yap’s criticism of DAP Sarawak’s opposition to the proposed increase in State seats, Chong said the party’s stance is rooted in concerns over unequal representation rather than resistance to expanding representation.

He stressed that DAP has consistently opposed the proposed re-delineation of State constituencies on the grounds of disparity in voter size, citing examples where an urban seat may have around 70,000 voters compared to only 11,000 in a rural constituency.

“With such disparity, one rural vote carries seven times the value of one urban vote. This undermines the very basis of our democratic process,” he said in a statement today.

Chong, who is also Padungan assemblyman, argued that Yap had wrongly equated DAP’s opposition to the delineation process with opposition to increasing Sarawak’s parliamentary representation, noting that the two issues are distinct.

“As a legislator, Yap should know the difference between State seats and parliamentary seats, and that opposing how new seats are drawn is not the same as opposing an increase in the number of seats,” he added.

The Stampin MP further alleged that the redelineation process benefits parties within Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), particularly Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which he claimed now holds more than 51 per cent of State seats.

Chong also pointed to what he described as a steady decline in the number and proportion of seats contested by Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) over the decades, from 14 out of 48 seats in 1987 to 18 out of 82 seats in 2022, as evidence of the party’s diminishing influence.

“In 1987, SUPP contested 14 out of a total 48 State seats (29.2 per cent). In 1995, SUPP contested 17 out of a total 62 State seats (27.4 per cent). In 2006, SUPP contested in 19 out of a total of 71 State seats (26.7 per cent). In 2022, SUPP contested in 18 out of a total of 82 State seats (21.9 per cent).

“SUPP did not dare to speak out on the unfair representation of rural and urban votes, nor on its own declining role within GPS. Yet it continues to cover up the gerrymandering strategy,” he claimed.

Earlier, Yap had expressed disappointment with DAP Sarawak for opposing the proposed increase in State seats, urging the party to instead focus on fulfilling its manifesto promises and advocating for Sarawak’s rights and autonomy.

The debate over seat increases and redelineation comes amid broader discussions on strengthening Sarawak’s political representation at both State and federal levels. — DayakDaily

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