EC’s move not based on political interests, says former chairman

KUALA LUMPUR: The attempt to challenge the redelineation exercise in Selangor will be in vain.

Former Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said yesterday this was because such an exercise could not be revised through judicial review.

He said it was EC’s duty to carry out redelineation of constituencies, a task which was in accordance with provisions under the Federal Constitution.

Aziz said the redelineation proposal did not involve an increase in seats and only needed a simple majority in Dewan Rakyat to be passed.

He said EC’s actions were not based on political interests, but according to the Federal Constitution.

It is also based on the principle of facilitating voters and administration, either at the district office or local authority level.

“EC did not propose to increase seats this time around, a move which would require a two-third majority vote in Dewan Rakyat to be passed,” he said.

The Federal Court had ruled that EC’s proposal to redelineate parliamentary and state constituencies could not be revised by way of a judicial review.

Aziz said the redelineation was implemented by EC at least every eight years, in accordance with the Federal Constitution and relevant laws.

The process involves the redrawing of electoral boundaries to prevent an imbalance of the voting population across polling districts and is conducted in accordance with Article 113(2)(i) of the Federal Constitution. “Objections can only be made by voters in the constituency if there is solid foundation and evidence to back them up,” said Aziz.

Objections can only be made by voters in the constituency if there is solid foundation and evidence to back them up. TAN SRI ABDUL AZIZ MOHD YUSOF

Former Election Commission chairman