PKR Sarawak cries foul over EC’s ‘new seats’

“It would be disrespectful of the Judiciary and the rule of law.”

KUCHING: Sarawak PKR Vice Chairman See Chee How has reminded the Election Commission (EC) that it should put the review process for its proposed delineations on hold until the High Court makes its decision on a Judicial Review application before it.

The application, to challenge the EC’s notice for the review process, will be heard either on May 15 or 25. See and Paul Baya, a voter from Baram, had filed the Judicial Review application on February 2 and were granted leave on February 17.

“Pending the Court’s decision, the EC cannot proceed to publish a second notice to review the process of redelineation,” said See who is also Batu Lintang Assemblyman. “It would be disrespectful of the Judiciary and the rule of law.”

“We do not want to speculate on the decision by the High Court. All parties should await the outcome.”

The case before the Court is that the EC did not publish its January 5 notice in a newspaper which had wide circulation.

DAP Sabah announced on March 9 that it would not only take the EC to Court, it would also apply for a stay of the entire redelineation process.

DAP is objecting to the inclusion of the Batu Lintang seat in the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat, pushing the number of voters to 80,000.

Bandar Kuching was previously made up of Pending and Stampin, both state seats held by the Opposition.