Form parliamentary body for redelineation exercise, PKR tells Putrajaya

By Zurairi AR

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — PKR urged Putrajaya today to form an independent body to redraw electoral boundaries due this year, which will answer directly to the Parliament.
The suggestion follows an announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday, that the Election Commission (EC) will now report to a parliamentary select committee (PSC) instead of the Prime Minister’s Department to ensure its credibility.
“This suggestion is to make sure that there is no conflict of interest and abuse of power, in addition to ensuring that EC’s tasks and roles are more effective and responsible in managing the implementation of elections,” said PKR deputy president Azmin Ali (picture) in a statement here.

According to Azmin, the body should take into consideration criteria such as the electoral quota and five per cent rule, geographical size, special geographical consideration, local government boundaries, boundaries of existing constituencies, and local ties.
The party reiterated that only a holistic major electoral reform could ensure free and fair elections in Malaysia, which in turn will remedy the institution of democracy in the nation.
The EC has been accused by opposition politicians of favouring the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) and even helping the 13-party coalition keep its unbroken grip on power for years, but none more so than in the recently-concluded May 5 general election.
The opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has organised several rallies throughout the country after the contentious May 5 polls, accusing BN of “stealing” the election as the coalition had lost the popular vote for the first time since 1969, but still retained federal power.
BN, which garnered just under 47 per cent of the popular vote against PR’s 51 per cent, won 133 seats in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat while the opposition gained 89.
Opposition politicians have also accused the EC of gerrymandering electoral boundaries to ensure more say to rural constituencies, where support for BN is stronger.
Analysts have pointed to a stark rural-urban split in voter support for the two political pacts in Election 2013, with city dwellers backing PR and voters in the countryside favouring BN.

Source themalaysianinsider