EC dismisses claim of gerrymandering under Tun Mahathir's premiership

The Election Commission today dismissed an allegation that it had altered Malay-majority constituencies into mixed-community constituencies when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the prime minister.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the redelineation of electoral boundaries adhered to a legal process and the EC did not have the authority to change constituencies to suit the needs of any individual.

Any allegation of gerrymandering was merely an assumption because the constitution provided for feedback, enquiries, meetings and discussions, he told reporters after announcing the dates for nomination and polling in the Rompin parliamentary by-election.

"The EC also does not have the authority to change the constituency of any voter because that depends on the address on the identity card," he said.

Umno Supreme Council member and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had alleged that Dr Mahathir had redelineated electoral boundaries to turn Malay-majority constituencies into mixed-community constituencies, thus making it difficult for UMNO to win seats.