Redelineation: All must abide by court decision, says DPM

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants all parties to abide by the Federal Court’s decision yesterday on the delineation of the electoral areas by the Election Commission (EC).

The Deputy Prime Minister said the decision was based on existing legislation and guidelines, hence it should not be questioned.

“We have to comply with court decisions and follow-up must be done by the EC. We as the government also concur with any decision made by the court.

“Political parties must abide by the court decision as it follows the legal system and guidelines in the constitution of our country,” he said.

He said this at a press conference after the pre-launch of the 16th Asian Defense Service Conference and Exhibition (DSA) and the 2018 Asia National Security International Fair (NATSEC) Asia 2018 here yesterday. Also present were Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

On Monday, the Federal Court ruled that the EC’s proposal to implement the redelineation of parliamentary constituencies and the State Assembly seats could not be amended by a judicial review.

Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif, chairing a three-judge panel, said the EC’s action on the business of redelineation was not binding on any party, therefore it could not be amended by a judicial review.

Md Raus was reported to have said this in a decision to reject two applications submitted by two DAP Members of Parliament from Perak and seven voters from Melaka to seek the Federal Court’s permission to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision, which did not favor them over a judicial review.