Penang Umno delegate urges party to reject electoral redelineation without more Malay constituencies.
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno should reject any proposed electoral redelineation exercise if it does not result in an increase in the number of Malay parliamentary constituencies, said Penang Umno delegate Mohd Noor Ahmad.
Speaking during the debate on the party president’s policy speech at the 2025 Umno General Assembly (PAU 2025), he said Umno’s experience in Penang since losing power as the state government following the 12th General Election (GE12) in 2008 should serve as a lesson.
According to Mohd Noor, uncontrolled development in Penang since then has exerted growing pressure on Malay villages, gradually eroding the demographic composition and status of several areas that were once recognised as Malay-majority parliamentary constituencies.
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“If we cannot increase the number of Malay parliamentary constituencies, it would be better for Umno, as part of the Unity Government, to reject the redelineation proposal,” he said.
Mohd Noor said the issue had been discussed among leaders of the Penang Umno Liaison Committee as early as 2008, when concerns were raised that rapid and uncontrolled development would eventually alter the political landscape and Malay representation in the state.
He cited the example of the Bayan Baru parliamentary constituency, which was once regarded as a Malay seat.
“In 1990, Bayan Baru was considered a Malay parliamentary seat and was represented by a Malay MP. Even in 2008, the constituency was still represented by a Malay.
Now, uncontrolled development has ultimately eroded Bayan Baru’s status as a Malay parliamentary constituency.”
He added that similar situations could occur in several other areas, including Kepala Batas, Tasek Gelugor, Balik Pulau, Permatang Pauh and Nibong Tebal, if rapid development continues without taking demographic balance into account.
In this regard, Mohd Noor urged Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to seriously scrutinise any proposal for the redelineation of electoral boundaries that may be tabled during the current administration.
“If new parliamentary constituencies are to be created, do not allow only non-Malay constituencies to be split. That would contribute to an increase in representation for their parties in the government.”
He stressed that Malay parliamentary constituencies targeted by Umno must also be included, so that the redelineation process truly reflects the actual Malay population representation in Parliament, in line with the party’s ‘Rumah Besar Bangsa’ concept.
