KUCHING — The Election Commission chairman, Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun, has indicated that the 17 new state seats proposed for Sarawak are unlikely to be implemented in time for the next state election, which must be held by February 2027.

The current term of the Sarawak legislative assembly is set to expire in February next year. However, Ramlan explained that the electoral boundary review process required to establish the new seats would not be completed before that deadline. He outlined this following a visit to the exhibition venue presenting the proposed Sarawak Electoral Boundary Review at Kuching North City Hall.

Earlier this year, in July 2026, the Sarawak state assembly passed the State Legislative Assembly (Composition of Members) Bill 2025, which approves increasing the number of state seats from 82 to 99 by adding 17 new constituencies.

Ramlan also reported that since the review process began, the Election Commission has received 18 formal objections related to the proposed electoral boundary changes. These objections include concerns about modifications to polling district centers and the names of certain state constituencies, notably in Sarikei, Bintulu, and Sibu.

He noted that the commission would undertake a detailed assessment of these objections as the review progresses, underscoring the careful consideration being given to public feedback and administrative challenges before finalizing new boundaries.

Given the time needed to resolve these issues and complete the electoral boundary process, the Election Commission anticipates that the proposed adjustments will not be ready for implementation at the next state election, which will proceed under the current constituency framework.