GE14 ‘SIGNED, SEALED & DELIVERED’ TO NAJIB BY THURSDAY? EC’S REDELINEATION PLAN TO BE TABLED, DEBATED & PASSED BY 5PM – REPORT

The government is planning to table the report on the new electoral boundaries by next Thursday, said a source close to BN.

The Election Commission’s (EC) final redelineation report will be a swift affair and wrapped up in one day, the source told Malaysiakini.

“The report will be tabled, debated and passed on March 22, all in one day,” said the source.

“I was told it will not be a long debate. The debate will begin in the morning and the motion for the electoral boundaries will be passed by 5pm,” he said.

Malaysiakini has attempted to contact Minister in the Prime Minister’s Departmant Azalina Othman Said for comment.

It is widely believed the redelineation report will be tabled next week.

On Monday, both Berita Harian and New Straits Times pointed to Parliament being dissolved in late March or early April.

The general election is expected to be held from the end of April to early May, before the month of Ramadan commences in mid-May.

Critics have panned the motion on the redrawing of electoral boundaries for being rushed through Parliament, as a large number have yet to have their objections heard.

Bersih this week called the EC’s move unconstitutional, as only 20 percent of objections have had a hearing.

As reiterated by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Tuesday, only a simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat is needed to pass the motion on the new electoral boundaries, without having to go through the Dewan Negara.

The redelineation of parliamentary and state constituencies will then come into force once the motion receives assent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

– M’kini