Sarawak Electoral Boundaries Must Not Divide Belaga and Murum Communities

Sarawak’s electoral boundary review should not divide communities in Belaga and Murum simply because their voter numbers are small, Senator Abun Sui Anyit said.

The PKR Hulu Rajang branch chief said family ties, traditional territories and cultural relationships must guide the process. In Sarawak’s interior, community networks are shaped by blood relations, longhouses, customs, rivers, land and areas where people earn their livelihoods, he said.

“I am not necessarily demanding additional state seats in Hulu Rajang. What I am demanding is fairness in redistricting,” Abun Sui said in a statement on the latest proposed boundaries being displayed for public feedback.

He said Belaga and areas with close historical, traditional and cultural links to the Belaga and Murum communities should be considered for retention in constituencies N.78 and N.79, provided this is consistent with constitutional principles and requirements. He also called on the Election Commission to examine the boundaries of Belaga District, the locations of communities and longhouses, traditional territories, and customary and cultural links between Belaga and Murum.

The senator said authorities should also consider rivers, traditional travel routes, roads, transport access and the actual positions of polling districts and polling centres. A longhouse or village may have few voters but maintain relationships with other communities for decades or generations, he said. Dividing such communities without considering their history could leave an elected representative unable to represent the wider network of people connected to one another.

Abun Sui backed the principle of adding Sarawak assembly seats to create more balanced and fair representation across the state. He insisted, however, that the process should reflect Sarawak, including the voices of inland communities, Orang Ulu groups and communities with traditional territories and longstanding ties.

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I am not necessarily demanding additional state seats in Hulu Rajang. What I am demanding is fairness in redistricting.