Sarawak DAP has suggested that the Election Commission (EC) withdraw its proposal on the redelineation of Sarawak's state electoral boundaries and start the process from scratch.“Come up with a new proposal. This is the only way the EC can hope to save whatever credibility it has left," said state chairman Chong Chieng Jen, stepping up opposition against the polls body's attempt to explain and justify the redelineation proposal.Chong said the explanation given “only reinforces the fact that the EC is a stooge of Barisan Nasional".On January 5, when the EC placed on public display its proposed redelineation of the state's electoral boundaries to create 11 new seats in the state legislative assembly, Chong reacted angrily to what he saw as blatant gerrymandering.He said the exercise had “dispelled all doubts that the EC is just helping BN to consolidate its position and power base".The Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman added that “with such blatant disregard to the fundamental principle of fairness in the delineation exercise, the EC might as well apply to join as BN's 14th political party".PKR in the meantime had threatened to file for a court injunction to stop the EC from going ahead with its proposed redelineation.In a statement today, Chong asked why was there no redelineation of parliamentary seats when the EC claimed the redrawing of some rural areas into smaller ones was for the purpose of making it easier for the elected representatives to serve their constituencies.“If the state assemblymen need to have their constituencies down-sized to provide better service, why is there no such similar need for the MPs and their parliamentary constituencies?" he asked.Chong said “the true reason" behind the retention of parliamentary constituencies was because BN did not have a two-third majority in parliament to push for a redelineation exercise.“The redelineation is unfair and ridiculous, and the EC is confident that no right-minded opposition MPs will lend their support to such proposal."On the EC's claim that rural or sub-urban constituencies were larger in some areas and thus harder to serve, thus warranting the need for fewer voters, Chong pointed to the case of the BN-held seat of Satok, asking why Satok, one of the smallest areas had only 13,580 voters.“The area of Satok is slightly bigger than Padungan (a DAP-held seat), but smaller than either Pending or Batu Lintang (DAP and PKR-held seats respectively).“Satok’s area is only one-third of the area of Kota Sentosa and one-fifth of the area of Batu Kawah.“Yet, Satok has only 13,580 voters whereas Padungan has 22,873 voters, Pending 30,881, Batu Lintang 24,640, Kota Sentosa 21,247 and Batu Kawah 19,643 voters."Chong said it was “a joke" that there was an increase of 11 state constituencies but no increase in parliamentary constituencies.“The only plausible explanation for why the EC is willing to make itself looking like a fool in rushing to increase the state seats while maintaining the number of parliament seats," he said.“This was because there are now BN-friendly UPP (United People's Party) and TERAS (Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak) which require certain state seats to be appeased.“Though not all of the increased seats will go to UPP, TERAS, or SUPP (Sarawak United People's Party) or SPDP (Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party), it will help to lessen the conflict between them."UPP is a splinter party of SUPP while TERAS is a splinter of SPDP. They were formed after the leadership upheaval in both SUPP and SPDP.Both UPP and TERAS’s application to join the BN coalition are being held up as SUPP and SPDP had threatened to use their veto power to reject the applications.The 11 proposed seats are Batu Kitang (designated as N13), Stakan (N17), Serembu (N18), Triboh (N23), Gedong (N26), Kabong (N40), Telian (N57), Selirik (N63) Murum (N66 ), Samalaju (N70), and Long Lama (N78).Under the redelineation, the Batu Lintang state constituency, which is held by PKR's See Chee How, was moved from under the Stampin parliantary constituency to the Bandar Kuching constituency while one parliamentary constituency was renamed. – January 12, 2015.
No comments :
Post a Comment