PBB, SUPP lay claim over new state seats in Miri

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and the Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) who are allies in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalition and the Sarawak government are laying claims over new state constituencies that will be created in the ongoing electoral boundary re-delineation exercise.

Miri has been under the control of the SUPP.

A PBB branch chief in Miri, Ariffin Mohamad, tabled a resolution during a party delegates branch meeting in Miri staking a claim to the new Miri seats being carved out.

“PBB must be given the right over new state constituencies in Miri so that we in PBB can have representation in Miri.

“We in PBB also want more Miri councillors posts to be given to us and a senator post to represent northern Sarawak in the Senate,” he told the media.

SUPP controls three state constituencies in Miri, namely Piasau, Pujut and Senadin.

Last year, SUPP leaders also staked their claims to the new seats in Miri being re-delineated.

Sarawak may get up to 10 new parliamentary constituencies if the re-delineation of parliamentary electoral boundaries in this state is carried out thoroughly.

There would be about 20 state seats up for grab.

Of the 10 parliamentary seats, three new ones would be in northern Sarawak, three in central Sarawak and four in southern Sarawak.

Three new parliamentary seats will be carved out in the existing districts of Baram, Miri and Bintulu with each of these districts divided into two parliamentary seats.

In central Sarawak, the existing parliamentary constituencies of Ulu Rajang, and Kapit will each be divided into two, and the existing boundary of Sibu and Sarikei will see the creation of a new parliamentary seat.

In southern Sarawak, the existing parliamentary constituencies of Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Samarahan and Serian will see extensive realignment of their electoral borders to carve out another four new parliamentary seats.

Sarawak, the biggest state in Malaysia, has 31 parliamentary seats in the Dewan Rakyat now and 82 state seats in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.

If the 10 new parliamentary seats were created and gazetted, Sarawak would have 41 parliamentary constituencies and at least 102 state constituencies.