EC gearing up for redrawing of S'wak electoral boundaries, says chair
Election Commission (EC) chairperson Abdul Ghani Salleh has announced that the commission was considering and evaluating the suitability of conducting a redelination exercise for Sarawak.
In a statement today he added that the EC has no plans to carry out a redelineation of electoral boundaries for states in the peninsula and Sabah as the eight-year interval period is still ongoing.
“The last redelineation exercise for the states of Malaya was completed in 2018, while for Sarawak and Sabah, it was done in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
“A redelineation exercise can only be carried out after the expiration of the eight-year interval period from the date of completion of the previous exercise, or when there are amendments to the composition of members of the Dewan Rakyat or state legislative assemblies,” he said.
READ MORE: Your KiniGuide to the redelineation exercise
Ghani said that any redelineation proposal would only commence upon notification to the Dewan Rakyat speaker and the prime minister by the EC and a notice published as provided under Part II, Section 4, Thirteenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
He pointed to Article 113 of the Federal Constitution, which states that the EC shall, from time to time, as it deems necessary, review the division of the federation and the states into constituencies based on principles and procedures established by the Constitution.
The principles include facilitating all voters to cast their votes during the election and that electoral boundaries do not cross state borders; taking into account administrative facilities available within the constituencies to establish necessary machinery for registration and polling.
“Also, the number of voters is more or less the same for each constituency in a state except when there are communication difficulties or other challenges faced by rural constituencies, during which the area of constituencies should be considered; and maintaining local ties,” he said.
He pointed to Article 113 of the Federal Constitution, which states that the EC shall, from time to time, as it deems necessary, review the division of the federation and the states into constituencies based on principles and procedures established by the Constitution.
The principles include facilitating all voters to cast their votes during the election and that electoral boundaries do not cross state borders; taking into account administrative facilities available within the constituencies to establish necessary machinery for registration and polling.
“Also, the number of voters is more or less the same for each constituency in a state except when there are communication difficulties or other challenges faced by rural constituencies, during which the area of constituencies should be considered; and maintaining local ties,” he said.
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