EC must re-do Sarawak redelineation exercise all over again, court rules

The Kuching High Court orders the Election Commission to redraw Sarawak's electoral boundaries. – The Malaysian Insider filepic, May 15, 2015.The Election Commission's (EC) redelineation exercise in Sarawak was turned into an exercise of futility today after it was ordered by the Kuching High Court to republish its notice to redraw the state's electoral boundaries.

The ruling means the polls body will have to start its boundary redrawing exercise all over again.

The court this afternoon ordered EC to republish the notice “in full compliance with the provisions contained in the Thirteenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution”.

Justice Yew Jen Kie, in her ruling on the judicial review brought by Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How and a voter in Ulu Baram, Pauls Baya, agreed with See's contention that there was a serious and considerable lack of details in the January 5 notice for people who are affected to make a decision.

Yew said it was essential for EC to publish the electoral roll, the list of proposed changes and the areas affected so the public would know how they would be affected by the redrawing.

She said the failure of the EC to publish the notice in detail had breached the requirements spelt out in the Federal Constitution.

- TMI