EC chairman, members of Commission attend public hearing on redelineation

Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof today chaired a public hearing session to challenge the Election Commission’s notice of proposed redelineation recommendations to fill the Sarawak legislative assembly.

The objection came from five divisions in Mambong and Stampin parliamentary constituencies.

The public hearing held at 8.30am and 2.30pm in the Kuching Community Hall here was attended by the EC Deputy Chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah and five members of the Commission.

Also present was Sarawak EC Director, Datuk Takun Sunggah.

Attempts by reporters, who had waited since 2pm at the main entrance of the hall, to get Abdul Aziz's reaction on the public hearing failed, after Abdul Aziz and six other members of the Commission left the building, via a different route.

Meanwhile, Takun when met by reporters said after the objection review process, the recommendation notice would be displayed once again.

The EC began putting on display the recommendation for an increase in the number of parliamentary and state constituencies, on Jan 5 to Feb 4, in some locations in the state.

Following the redelineation of electoral boundaries exercise, Sarawak state assembly seats would be increased from 71 seats to 82.

The proposed eleven new constituencies were N.13 Batu Kitang, N.17 Stakan, N.18 Serembu, N.23 Triboh, N.26 Gedong, N.40 Kabong, N.57 Tellian, N.63 Selirik, N.66 Murum, N.70 Samalaju and N.78 Long Lama.

Tomorrow the public hearing to challenge the proposed redelineation exercise would be held at 10am at the Serian Community Hall.