KUCHING, March 23 -- The Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) has approved an increase in the number of state seats, expanding from 82 to 99 following the addition of 17 new constituencies.

Acting Head of State Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said the decision had already been passed in the assembly, but the next step lies with the Election Commission (SPR), which will conduct ground-level studies on the proposed delineation.

"At this stage, there is no report yet from SPR on whether the 17 new constituencies have been confirmed. Once the report is ready, it will be displayed before being gazetted, including whether there are any objections, including to the new constituencies," he told reporters during the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources...