UMNO to discuss EC's redelineation exercise ahead of next GE

The redelineation of electoral boundaries to be discussed by the Barisan Nasional (BN) Supreme Council on Sept 23, is among the matters UMNO will focus on ahead of the next General Election, said UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He said the matter would also be discussed at the UMNO Supreme Council meeting on Sept 30.

He said all recommendations or objections would then be submitted to the Election Commission (EC), which is responsible for deciding on the matter.

"Elections are related to numbers and areas, where the number of seats determines who forms the government, so this process (redelineation) is among the things which can have an impact, and thus should be considered by the party," he said.

Tengku Adnan, who is also Federal Territories Minister, was speaking to reporters after opening Arau UMNO's delegates' meeting at the Arau Matriculation College hall here, today.

Perlis UMNO Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. was also present.

The EC began its review electoral boundaries for parliamentary and state seats in the peninsula and Sabah on Thursday (Sept 15).

EC secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said the review was conducted based on the provisions of Clause (2) of Article 113 of the Federal Constitution and the amendments to Clause (2) of Article 14 of the Sabah State Constitution, which was gazetted on Aug 18.

According to Abdul Ghani, the EC would display the redelineation notice with full details of the proposed recommendations at specified locations in all Federal and state constituencies within Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah for one month (Sept 15 to Oct 14). - BERNAMA