WHY SO SECRETIVE? Reveal redelineation exercise map - Pakatan tells EC

KUALA LUMPUR - Pakatan Rakyat (PR) today urged the Election Commission (EC) to reveal the details of the upcoming redelineation exercise map, including its digitized format so that the public can view it.

In making the call, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said the rakyat have the rights to access the proposed map, as it involves the voters' interest.

"We are talking about election that will affect voters as the electoral system is pivotal to the whole democratic system in this country and all Malaysians must have access to it," she told reporters after the launch of the Mandarin version book of "Masa Depan Masa Kita" by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

She stressed that non-governmental organisations must have full access to the map as well.

"I will continue to pressure them to be more responsible and answerable to all parties and to the rakyat as a whole," she said, adding that the PR request to see the map including the digitized version of it remains unanswered.

Nurul Izzah, who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president, has criticised the EC's decision to revealed it only to certain quarters, saying it was something unacceptable.

"I would like them to fully disclose the proposed redelineation map so that the public can view it," she reiterated.

Earlier this month, the EC decided to go ahead with the long overdue redelineation of electoral boundaries, having deferred the scheduled exercise in 2011 after the last one was done in 2003.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the EC was expected to gazette the notice for the redelineation exercise at the end of this year.

"After the announcement, the notice will be displayed for a month for proposals and objections from the state governments, local authorities and groups of registered voters of at least 100 people in the constituencies," he said

Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah said Barisan Nasional has allegedly used the gerrymandering practise to maintain their power as the government. - Sundaily