Electoral reform group Bersih has urged the Malacca state assembly to censure its Chief Minister Idris Haron for proposing to gerrymander electoral boundaries in the state.
"Bersih also urges the assembly representatives of Malacca to move a motion to censure the CM for abetting the EC to allegedly violate the federal constitution.
“All BN's elected representatives and component parties' leadership must have the same moral duty to condemn such an anti-constitutional proposal,” it said.
Yesterday Idris proposed two additional state seats to the parliamentary seat of Bukit Katil, which he said will increase the Malay voting population from 53 percent to 67.5 percent.
This he said, will help BN win. He also proposed similar changes to the parliamentary seat of Kota Melaka.
Condemning the proposal, Bersih said Haron was abetting the EC in allegedly violating the federal constitution.
It added the 13th Schedule requires equal representation such that the constituencies in the same state are approximately equal in electoral size.
Exception is only given to inland constituencies with large geographical size.
"Contrary to Idris Haron’s intention, the redelineation process is not designed to ensure the ruling coalition's victory when it loses majority support.
"Such abdication of constitutional duty for partisan and sectarian interests epitomises chronic pathology," it said.
Bersih also noted that former EC chairperson Rashid Abdul Rahman had previously admitted that the three re-delineation exercises under him were done in such a way as to ensure Malays retained political power.
Bersih also noted that former EC chairperson Rashid Abdul Rahman had previously admitted that the three re-delineation exercises under him were done in such a way as to ensure Malays retained political power.
"Bersih strongly urges (the current) EC to refute such a proposal, to ensure equal representation and to uphold the principle of 'one person, one vote' as per the doctrine of equality.
"It must abide by the 13th Schedule's requirement for equal and fair representation.
"The EC is reminded that its failure to categorically refute Haron's alleged criminal abetting to violate the constitution will serve as evidence of their compliance in future litigation involving redelineation in Malacca," it said. - Mkini
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