Fresh redelineation exercise for Sarawak EC

The Kuching High Court on Friday has ordered the Election Commission to redo Sarawak’s redelineation exercise again as its first draft and constituency plans lacked pertinent details for people to make decisions.

The Malaysian Insider reported that judge Datuk Yew Jen Kie in her ruling stated there was a serious and "considerable lack of details" in the January 5 notice which required the EC to publish the electoral roll, list of proposed changes and the areas affected.

This is essential so the public would know how they would be affected by the redrawing, she added.

With this ruling, EC will have to start its boundary redrawing exercise again.

The court ordered the EC to republish the notice in full compliance with the provisions contained in the Thirteenth Schedule of the Constitution.

READ: EC chairman, members of Commission attend public hearing on redelineation

READ: EC to go ahead with redelineation of electoral boundaries

In February, 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 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.