At least seven new state seats

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is expected to have at least seven new state seats under a proposed re-delineation of its electoral boundaries.Although the exact number has not been officially disclosed yet, a proposal has been submitted to the Election Commission (EC) to increase the number of state seats in Sabah.

Sabah EC Director Datuk Md Idrus Ismail was reported as saying early this month that the commission has submitted the proposed re-delineation for Sabah to its headquarters and the proposal will be put on display for public feedback at a date to be fixed later.

Sabah currently has 60 state seats and 25 parliamentary seats. In Sarawak, with 31 parliamentary constituencies, there is a proposal for 11 new state seats – from 71 to 82.

Political parties, especially Kadazandusun-based Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Upko, have been calling for more state seats in their respective constituencies to reflect the population and growth in the number of voters.

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It is believed that the seven new seats under the re-delineation exercise are Bukit Garam (under Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency), Langkon (Kota Marudu), Sepagaya (Lahad Datu), Pandasan (Kota Belud), Limbahau (Papar), Mengkabong (Tuaran), and Darau (Sepanggar).

Commenting the re-delineation exercise on Sunday, PBS Secretary-General Datuk Johnny Mositun said he welcomes and fully supports the exercise as the last one was done 10 years ago. He said he has always emphasised the need to create new seats, especially from Papar up to Sipitang and also to Labuan, if possible.

"There must be additional seats especially when there are some areas here that are not represented by any other races of Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties.

"Of course, we are still maintaining that KadazanDusunMurut (KDM) in Kuala Penyu is represented by Upko.

"So, as I said before for many, many years, it is necessary if we can create few additional seats from Papar to Sipitang, and that, this particular party (PBS) should stand…because rationally, I have been fighting for it (additional state seat) for Papar," he said.

Mositun, who is also PBS Pantai Manis Divisional Chief, said this to reporters when met during the PBS Chrismas Open House and Welcoming New Year 2015 programme, officiated by its President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan at Kg Tampasak, Kinarut, here.

Also present were Papar MP cum Works Deputy Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin, PBS Deputy President Senator Datuk Jamilah Sulaiman, Infrastructure Development Assistant Minister cum Kawang Assemblyman Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar, PBS Vice-President Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah cum Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and other officials.

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According to Mositun, he proposed an additional state seat for Papar.

"I cannot name the proposed additional state seat for Papar which has been submitted to the EC. But since there is a source saying that EC has named Limbahau as the proposed new state seat for Papar…then I believe it is Limbahau," said Mositun, who is also State Assembly Deputy Speaker.

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