Annuar: Critics of EC making assumptions

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa has dismissed suggestions that the proposed redelineation of electoral boundaries by the Election Commission (EC) is racially polarised to favour Umno.

Referring to recent statements by Barisan Nasional component parties on the issue, he said these were just opinions, and that those complaining were just making their own assumptions.

“To me, as far as elections are concerned, the results and patterns are not something permanent,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.

“Sometimes people reject certain parties and candidates, but at other times they change,” he said, pointing to the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar byelections as examples.

He said election results could change even without any changes in electoral boundaries. So if you say the delineation will bring out a certain result, that’s only an assumption,” he said.

Meanwhile, MIC has identified two parliamentary seats and two state seats that will be affected by the EC exercise.

Party president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the parliamentary seats are Tapah in Perak and Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan, and the state seats Lunas in Kedah and Sg Tua in Selangor.

“The redelineation will affect the proposed candidates (for the 14th general election). Therefore, we have instructed the respective state chairmen to submit a protest to the EC by next week,” he told the press at MIC headquarters yesterday.