Sarawak DAP has described as "very unfair" the proposed delineation of eight more state and three parliamentary constituencies ahead of a state election due before September 2006.

Its chairperson Wong Ho Leng said the exercise does not reflect proportional representation and that the "the ultimate beneficiary will be Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB)".

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) will gain "very little", he said, and the Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) "probably nothing at all".

The Election Commission announced yesterday that eight new state constituencies were being proposed to bring the total in Sarawak to 70, and the number of parliamentary seats from 28 to 31.

The proposed changes are being displayed until Feb 17 for public feedback. The Election Commission will table the proposed changes to Parliament in July and, if state elections are held after that, the new list of state seats will be used.

Wong said the DAP will work quickly to gather public feedback for submission to the commission.

Opposition State Reform Party (Star) president Dr Patau Rubis said the additional seats will not benefit the people of Sarawak.

"Overall, (the exercise) will not help Sarawak and the rakyat unless the government adopts what Singapore is doing... (when elected representatives) are given a sufficient allowances and have enough to feed themselves and their families, they can concentrate only on their work," he said.

"If you want to run Sarawak with hungry chickens, can you expect them to stand on their own feet and have independent minds? What you'll find are only part-time (elected representatives), and I don't blame them."

After last year's parliamentary elections in the state, Taib set up what has been described as a 'jumbo' state cabinet. Many new assistant state ministers were appointed, resulting in the cabinet being nearly half the number of the 62-member state assembly.

Barisan Nasional controls all but one seat, which is held by DAP's Chiew Chin Sing (Kidurong).

Potential beneficiaries

The proposed new state seats are Opar, Lingga, Balai Ringin, Bukit Saban, Daro, Bekenu, Pujut and Batu Danau.

An analysis indicates that four are Iban-majority areas and that two have predominantly Melanau people. There is a Bidayuh or Chinese majority in the remaining seats.

Four or five of these seats are thought likely to go to PBB (which already holds 30 state seats), and one each to PRS, SPDP and Supp.

The three additional parliamentary seats are Igan, Sibuti and Limbang ,with Supp, PBB and SPDP expected to get one each.

It is understood that some leaders in Supp, which has 16 state assembly seats - including three Dayak seats - are less than happy with the new deal. They see the move as benefitting other parties.

Meanwhile, an Orang Ulu professional who is a member of the Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association, said he supported the delineation exercise as it will better reflect electoral representation for the rural community.

If the proposed changes are adopted, it will mean that the Dayak community (Iban/Bidayuh/Orang Ulu), which represents nearly 50 percent of the state population of 2.3 million, will hold 29 out of the new total of 70 state seats, or an increase of five seats.

"We've been asking for this. It indicates that the government is listening to the people and we are thankful," he said, asking not to be named.

There has been speculation that state elections will be held in the second half of the year, although the term of office of the state assembly will not end until September 2006.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.