Desptite considerable media speculation, neither the highly anticipated Election Commission Report on new constituency redcelineation proposals which the Election Commission submitted to the Prime Minister on March 9 nor is the Prime Minister’s motion to give effect to the Election Commission’s new constituency proposals are on the table of MPs today.
I call on the Speaker of Parliament, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to ensure that Parliament does not become a rubber-stamp to approve the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Constituency Redelineation Proposals without ample time for Members of Parliament to study them and to get public feedback.
As correctly pointed out by the Bersih acting chairperson Sharul Aman Mohd Saari, Najib can under Section 9 of the Thirteenth Schedule of the Constitution further alter the Election Commission’s final report on the redrawing of electoral boundaries before tabling it to Parliament.
The Prime Minister can for instance reinstate the Election Commission’s first constituency redelineation proposals for Selangor, which had been substituted by the EC’s second constituency redelikneation proposals.
In the EC’s second constituency redelineation proposal for Selangor, only five parliamentary constituencies will be affected as compared to 18 in the first proposal.
The five parliamentary constituencies affected in the EC’s second redelineation proposals are Tanjong Karang, Kuala Selangor, Gombak, Ampang, and Pandan.
EC’s first proposal had suggested boundary changes for Selayang, Hulu Langat, Bangi, Puchong, Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya Selatan, Petaling Jaya Utara, Subang, Shah Alam, Kapar, Klang, Kota Raja, and Kuala Langat, in addition to the five constituencies.
Under EC’s first redelineation proposal, the parliamentary constiency of Petaling Jaya Utara (P106), presently held by Tony Pua, would be turned into Damansara by merging PJU with parts of Selayang, Bukit Lanjan, Sungai Buloh and Kepong.
It will turn P106 into a massively populated seat, increasing from 85,000 voters to almost 150,000 voters, thus making it one of the largest seats in the country.
Furthermore, the proposed Damansara parliamentary will have four times more voters than Sabak Bernam and about 10 times that of Putrajaya.
Is there a guaratee that the Prime Minister will not reinstate such a proposal, which is most ridiculous, outrageous and most undemocratic gerrymandering at its worst.
Once the Election Commission’s new Constituency Redelineation Report are tabled in the House, Parliament should set up a Parliamentary Select Committee to study the Report and the Prime Minister’s Proposals, and I urge the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of parliamentary affairs, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman to have discussions with the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Dr.Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on the membership of such a Parliamentary Select Committee.
Parliament should not be held to ranson because of the impending 14th General Election to become a rubber-stamp to approve the Exectuive’s proposal on new constituency redelineation, for this would be a grave abdication of responsibiity by Parliament and the latest great blow to the doctrine of separation of powers among the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
(Media Conference Statement in Parliament on Wednesday, 21st March 2018 at 12.30 pm)
