New Chinese-majority state seat for Kuching
Tony ThienPublished: Apr 23, 2005 2:53 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The Election Commission (EC) has proposed the creation of a new Chinese-majority state seat, bringing the total to 71, following a second recommended revision of electoral constituencies in Sarawak.
The Election Commission proposes the creation of a new Chinese-majority state seat, bringing the total to 71, following a second recommended revision of electoral constituencies in Sarawak.
The Election Commission (EC) has proposed the creation of a new Chinese-majority state seat, bringing the total to 71, following a second recommended revision of electoral constituencies in Sarawak.
The extra seat in addition to the eight the commission recommended in January this year is called Kota Sentosa, carved out of the existing Batu Kawa and Batu Lintang state constituencies. It has an electorate of 22,862 registered voters.
This was confirmed today by Sarawak EC head Noordin Che Ngah following the publication of a notice of the second recommended revision of boundaries of eight parliamentary and 14 state constituencies.
When the EC first announced the changes in January, many groups and individuals protested and made counter-proposals.
Among the political groups said to be extremely unhappy was the Sarawak United People's Party (Supp), a member of the state ruling coalition led by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.
In the first changes, Supp was said to have complained that the Chinese were under-represented and proposed that at least two new state constituencies be created in Kuching - Kenyalang and Kota Sentosa.
A local opposition leader Dominique Ng of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) told malaysiakini the new changes were an indication that the EC did listen to the people.
The eight parliamentary seats included in the second recommended revision are Mas Gading, Santubong, Petra Jaya, Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar and Kapit and the 14 state seats are Opar (new), Tasik Biru, Tanjung Datu, Pantai Damai, Tupong, Padungan, Batu Linang, Kota Sentosa (new), Batu Kawah, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau, Pelagus and Katibas.
Now on display
The proposed new constituency plan is now on display at the respective new constituencies and members of political parties and the public have been given one month to make representations if any to the second proposed changes.
Many politicians, both from the ruling Barisan Nasional and opposition parties, were surprised at the new changes, as they had thought the EC would stick to the first recommended revision.
"Apparently the BN parties had put in a great deal of pressure and the EC had to do something about it," Ng said.
Under the second recommended revision, some of the parliamentary and state constituencies reverted to their original status prior to January this year.
If the new changes are accepted and endorsed, Sarawak will have 71 state seats and 31 parliamentary seats.
The extra seat in addition to the eight the commission recommended in January this year is called Kota Sentosa, carved out of the existing Batu Kawa and Batu Lintang state constituencies. It has an electorate of 22,862 registered voters.
This was confirmed today by Sarawak EC head Noordin Che Ngah following the publication of a notice of the second recommended revision of boundaries of eight parliamentary and 14 state constituencies.
When the EC first announced the changes in January, many groups and individuals protested and made counter-proposals.
Among the political groups said to be extremely unhappy was the Sarawak United People's Party (Supp), a member of the state ruling coalition led by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.
In the first changes, Supp was said to have complained that the Chinese were under-represented and proposed that at least two new state constituencies be created in Kuching - Kenyalang and Kota Sentosa.
A local opposition leader Dominique Ng of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) told malaysiakini the new changes were an indication that the EC did listen to the people.
The eight parliamentary seats included in the second recommended revision are Mas Gading, Santubong, Petra Jaya, Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar and Kapit and the 14 state seats are Opar (new), Tasik Biru, Tanjung Datu, Pantai Damai, Tupong, Padungan, Batu Linang, Kota Sentosa (new), Batu Kawah, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau, Pelagus and Katibas.
Now on display
The proposed new constituency plan is now on display at the respective new constituencies and members of political parties and the public have been given one month to make representations if any to the second proposed changes.
Many politicians, both from the ruling Barisan Nasional and opposition parties, were surprised at the new changes, as they had thought the EC would stick to the first recommended revision.
"Apparently the BN parties had put in a great deal of pressure and the EC had to do something about it," Ng said.
Under the second recommended revision, some of the parliamentary and state constituencies reverted to their original status prior to January this year.
If the new changes are accepted and endorsed, Sarawak will have 71 state seats and 31 parliamentary seats.
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