Bersih: Does BN already know outcome of redelineation exercise?

Electoral reform coalition Bersih today questioned if Barisan Nasional already knows the outcome of the Election Commission's ongoing redelineation exercise.

In a press conference at its office in Petaling Jaya, Bersih said that two recent developments begged the question – namely the launch of a BN operation centre for the “P107 Sungai Buloh” parliamentary constituency, and the outcome of a Court of Appeal case this morning.

The electoral watchdog expressed shock as the “P107 Sungai Buloh” constituency does not exist.

"Bersih is shocked by the incident (operation centre launch) because the P107 Sungai Buloh parliamentary constituency has yet to exist, as it is only a proposed seat in the ongoing redelineation exercise.

"The launch shows arrogance and disrespect by BN and (Selangor BN chief) Noh Omar towards the redelineation exercise, because the court case on the exercise in Selangor is still ongoing," Bersih committee member Mandeep Singh said.

Mandeep also pointed out that the High Court will deliver its decision in the Selangor government’s challenge of the EC’s present delimitation exercise in December.

"Does BN already know the end result of the redelineation and that there will be new seats created? If so, it should reveal it now," he stressed.

'Three other decisions not in favour of voters'

Aside from the pending decision in Selangor, lawyer Louis Liaw told the press conference that there have been three other decisions on related challenges filed by voters in Perak, Malacca and Johor.

Liaw said the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya today heard and delivered a decision on the Johor case, despite being informed that the four applicants had on Tuesday withdrawn their case in the High Court in Johor.

"The court said the written submissions (from both parties) were sufficient for them to allow the appeal and set aside the leave granted by the High Court," he said.

Asked about the reasons behind the applicants' withdrawal, Liaw (photo) said the outcomes of related challenges in Malacca and Perak made it “no longer strategic to pursue the case.”

In those cases, it was decided that the questions raised on delimitation notices and electoral rolls were recommendations, rather than decisions, and therefore not subject to judicial review.

In June, former Bersih treasurer Thomas Fann and three others filed an application for judicial review against the EC over the redelineation exercise.

They claimed that the exercise was flawed, unfair and violated the principles set out under Section 2 of the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah stated that the appellate court’s decision in the Johor case was regrettable, and wondered if it was still worthwhile pursuing the application for judicial review.

"(But) the more serious concern would be that it appears the court is allowing the EC to do whatever it wants on the redelineation exercise," Maria said.- Mkini