Speech 
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong 
at the Federal Territory DAP Carnival at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur
on 9 June, 2002

We urge the Election Commission to formulate a new strategy to ensure a fair re-delineation of electoral boundaries, so that Malaysian electoral system will be truly democratic

We thank the organizing committee and others for their hard work, making this carnival a success. We are obliged to the public who support this function. The times have changed. We need new types of activities---new for us---and we hope the people will continue to support us.

NO GERRYMANDER

According to the Chairman of the Election Commission, Datuk Abdul Rashid, there will be 25 new parliamentary seats and 67 state seats in the Peninsula and Sabah. Parliamentary seats will increase from 193 to 218. He hopes that the re-delineation will be completed by no later than June 2003.

Four years ago, Sarawak had the re-delineation exercise that was done in 1994 in the Peninsula and Sabah. The Federal Constitution stipulates that electoral constituencies are re-delineated every eight years.

Although the Election Commission says that it follows the laws in the re-delineation of constituencies, we believe that the procedures and the criteria have to be improved. The commission must not just say things to convince the people, it must also show that it is truly fair in practice. Gerrymander or unfair delineation is against democracy.

We ought to review rural weightage. In 1957, there was 15% rural weightage¡ªelectorate in a rural constituency could be smaller than an urban one by 15%. Then, this was increased to 50%. Now, there is no limit.

Rural areas have less development and facilities. To give them rural weightage is logical. But, unlimited rural weightage is unacceptable. If an urban constituency has 80,000 voters compared to 30,000 in a rural constituency, then this is ridiculous.

ROAD BLOCKS

We propose that the Joint Committee comprising representatives from the Transport Ministry, the Works Ministry and the Police review the methods and criteria for vehicle inspections including speed limits. 

The Government must not be unfair to the road-users. Neither must it lumber them with irregularities and inconvenience.

Recently, the police issue summonses against traffic offenders. It has taken further actions. Many are unhappy with the ways the police do things. 

We need the police. Those who flout the laws face police action. But, we expect it to follow the procedures and to advise the public, not to seek opportunities against them or inconvenience them unnecessarily.

Yesterday, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Transport Ministry Donald Lim said that within two months, the above-mentioned committee would increase the speed limit of highways from 110 km to 120 km per hour. If this is done, the number of traffic offenders will decrease.

But, the Combined Committee has to review the procedures and criteria for setting up road blocks to catch those who exceed speed limits and other offences, including setting speed limits at various stages of the highways. 

For example, the Elite Highway from Subang Jaya to the KLIA. Just after the first toll plaza near Subang Jaya, there is a short distance for 90 km per hour. We don¡¯t know why. Then, it is back to 110. Very often, the police set up a road block at the section near Putra Jaya (over maybe 10km away). They tell the motorists that the latter have exceeded 90, in fact, the speed is116. How? Some dillydally. For those in a hurry to catch a plane, they don¡¯t want to argue with the few unscrupulous police and they find a quick solution.