©The Sun (Used by permission)
by Pauline Wong and Aaron Ngui
PETALING JAYA (May 13, 2013): The Election Commission (EC) may find itself faced with obstacles when it gets to the task of re–delineating the electoral constituencies.
This will especially be so in Penang, Kelantan and Selangor where Pakatan Rakyat (PR) not only controls but holds two–thirds majority after the recent general election.
Under Article 113 of the Federal Constitution, the EC has to review the division of federal and state constituencies, and recommend changes as necessary every eight to 10 years.
The last re–delineation exercise was conducted in 2003, making this year the deadline for a review of the 222 parliamentary and 505 state constituencies.
The re–delineation process requires either a simple majority in the respective legislative assemblies to approve the recommendations (if there is to be no change to the number of seats) or a two–thirds majority if there is to be an increase in the number of seats.
If the states do not consent, the constituencies will remain unchanged.
Barisan Nasional has two–thirds majority only in Perlis, Malacca, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.
In Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told a press conference yesterday said any redelineation exercise which does not uphold the "one–person–one–vote" principle is a no–go for the PR government.
He said the upcoming redelineation exercise must emphasise this value, and PR will not agree to any new delineation of constituencies at the parliamentary or state level if the precept is not upheld.
The disparity between votes and seats won has led critics to allege gerrymandering, the practice of creating partisan–advantaged constituencies, as the cause for the inequality.
Several quarters have called for a more equal representation in the constituencies, and for equal weightage in votes between rural and urban seats.
The Malaysian Bar has also called on the EC to give effect to "as equal as possible" a representation in each seat, whether parliament or state.
Bar Council president Christopher Leong said the process must be underpinned by principles of equality.
"A delineation exercise must be conducted with the objective to achieve equality, and equal representation as far as possible.
"It must not be lopsided, where an MP of one constituency represents 100,000 people while another speaks for only 15,000 people," he said.
Some parliamentary constituencies, like Kapar in Selangor and Gelang Patah in Johor, have over 100,000 voters while the smallest seat is Putrajaya with 15,000 voters.
Leong added that while urban constituencies will have more people due to economic opportunities, this does not mean depriving urbanites of a fair voice in the legislative assemblies.