Zahid claims of plot to amend constitution to give DAP more seats

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claims there are plans to amend the Federal Constitution to pave the way for a new redelineation exercise.

The Umno president, who is on garden leave from his post, claimed this was aimed at increasing the number of urban seats which meant DAP a bigger presence in Parliament for the DAP.

"There are a lot of dodgy things happening. This programme is based on the 'Malaysian Malaysia' concept. We know DAP is behind it, what more when they hold the Finance Ministry.

"Under this 'Malaysian Malaysia' concept, we know there are plans in the Dewan Rakyat this July to amend the Federal Constitution to add to the number of state and parliamentary seats.

"There may be a proposal for constituencies with more than 100,000 voters to get additional seats. These will be urban seats.

"Who will be urban MPs? DAP, of course. Meaning DAP will have more MPs," said Zahid.

The former BN deputy prime minister made these claims when officiating Kepong Umno's annual general meeting in Selayang today.

In March, the Election Commission had said it was studying if Parliament could make void the last redelineation exercise under the BN government which was widely panned as gerrymandering. 

Election Commission chief Azhar Harun (above) said an amendment to the Federal Constitution would then be necessary in order to hold a fresh redelineation exercise as the current law only allows to be conducted once every eight years.

Currently, 155 out of the 222 parliamentary seats are located in rural or semi-rural areas and are mostly represented by Malay or bumiputera lawmakers.

Of these seats, 117 are located in Peninsular Malaysia.

DAP currently holds 42 parliamentary seats.

Zahid said a new redelineation exercise would see only a minimal increase in Malay-majority constituencies.

"For rural seats, normally the number of voters is small. If there is an increase in seats, it will be minimal. This will endanger Malay Muslims in rural areas," he said.

At present, the balance of voters between rural and urban seats tends to be highly disproportionate with rural voters being over-represented and urban voters being under-represented.

- Mkini