The manner that Malaysia’s electoral boundaries are drawn is discriminatory and divisive, and could ultimately undermine the government’s legitimacy if continued, warned academician Bridget Welsh.
“If the lesson that the government takes from the 13th general election is that we have to use the redelineation exercise to strengthen our political power in a polarised fashion, it will ultimately weaken itself…
“If you continue of follow a pattern that is divisive, that is exclusive, that is diminishing rights; these things - I fundamentally believe - will backfire,” she said during a seminar in Petaling Jaya today.
She was speaking on past redelineation exercises in Malaysia and comparing it to international best practices, which are based on principles of impartiality, equality, transparency, representativeness, and non-discrimination.
Welsh added that it should not be assumed that redelineation can be used to adapt to a changing political landscape, because political players will adapt to it as well.
For example, she said the 2008 political tsunami was an "unintended consequence" from the creation of mixed seats.
[More to follow]
“If the lesson that the government takes from the 13th general election is that we have to use the redelineation exercise to strengthen our political power in a polarised fashion, it will ultimately weaken itself…“If you continue of follow a pattern that is divisive, that is exclusive, that is diminishing rights; these things - I fundamentally believe - will backfire,” she said during a seminar in Petaling Jaya today.
She was speaking on past redelineation exercises in Malaysia and comparing it to international best practices, which are based on principles of impartiality, equality, transparency, representativeness, and non-discrimination.
Welsh added that it should not be assumed that redelineation can be used to adapt to a changing political landscape, because political players will adapt to it as well.
For example, she said the 2008 political tsunami was an "unintended consequence" from the creation of mixed seats.
[More to follow]
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