BETONG: Deputy Minister of Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, Razi Sitam, welcomes the proposal for three new parliamentary constituencies in Betong.
Razi, who is also the Saribas assemblyman, said this matter was unanimously agreed upon by members from the 14 branches of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) under the Betong zone.
“Betong is quite a large and densely populated zone. Logistically, it is extensive and requires more parliamentarians to represent us at the national level.
“The same applies to the proposal to increase the number of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak. The proposal is very apt and aligns with what we uphold in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), where Sarawak’s voice needs to be amplified in Parliament,” he told reporters today.
During the PBB Special Convention for the Betong Zone, PBB vice president Datuk Julaihi Narawi said that the proposal to increase the number of parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak and to add three new ones for the Betong Zone was among the nine resolutions agreed upon.
Razi added that the current number is not in favour of Sarawak within MA63, which appears biased, and this is one of the issues that will be advocated for.
Meanwhile, Kalaka assemblyman Mohamad Duri also concurred, saying this would allow the voices of the people to be heard and more development to be introduced.
“There are many developments that we yearn for, so with the addition of these constituencies, the budget will also increase, and parliamentarians will be able to address issues and provide facilities for the people.
“With the addition of constituencies, the area overseen by a parliamentarian becomes smaller; thus, with a reduction in size, it accelerates development.
“That’s what the people want; therefore, with the addition of constituencies, much-needed development can be undertaken in specific areas,” he said.
