Election Commision can consider redelineation of parliamentary and state boundaries after current eight-year period ends in March 2026, says deputy minister.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission may consider reviewing the delineation of boundaries for peninsula states, including Tebrau and Subang parliamentary constituencies, after the current eight-year period ends in March 2026.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said redelineation can only occur after this period or if laws regarding Dewan Rakyat or state legislative assembly composition are amended.
“The EC is responsible for reviewing the delineation of federal and state electoral boundaries in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 113 of the Federal Constitution, as well as the principles and procedures outlined in Parts 1 and 2 of the 13th Schedule,” he said during a Special Chamber session.
He was responding to Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau) who asked if the EC would review densely populated areas like Tebrau parliamentary constituency.
Kulasegaran said demarcation principles include balancing voter numbers, election administration efficiency, voter convenience and maintaining local community ties.
The EC also considers administrative matters, voter density and growth, geography, topography, development space, infrastructure and public access to elected representatives’ services.
“Therefore, based on the principles and factors that have been taken into account, a comparison of representation between the Tebrau parliamentary constituency and the Igan parliamentary constituency cannot be based solely on the number of voters,” he said.
“This is because both areas have different geographical characteristics and challenges, conditions on the ground and infrastructure facilities.”
Responding to Puah’s supplementary question about public perception of gerrymandering, Kulasegaran stressed all processes follow existing legal provisions. – Bernama
