PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak legislative assembly has passed a bill to increase the number of seats in the assembly from 82 to 99 in a special sitting today.
The bill to increase the number of state seats was extensively debated by government backbenchers and its two sole opposition members.
The bill was tabled by tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
It replaces the 2014 Composition of Membership Ordinance, which had set the assembly’s membership at 82 seats since 2015.
Karim said the increase was warranted to accommodate population growth, urban sprawl and vast rural areas. He also said it would “enhance accessibility to governance” and bring the leadership closer to the people.
Sarawak’s next state election must be held by April 2027 at the latest.