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Delineation Exercise: EC Chairman Datuk Rashid must fulfill his promise that he is prepared to argue it out with doubters Statement by Kerk Kim Hock (Petaling Jaya, Thursday): The Election Commission (EC) Chairman, Datuk Abdul Rashid, was quoted in the Sin Chew Jit Poh on 23.2.2003 as challenging political parties and NGOs which had alleged that the EC had been biased towards the government or that the EC had not been neutral to see him and argue their cases out with him. I had, on 24.2.2003 openly accepted the challenge and through a public statement, which was also faxed to Datuk Rashid, stated my preparedness to argue with him on the question of the constituency delineation exercise for the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency. I had said that I wanted the EC to convince me that in the delineation exercise for Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency, the EC had acted fairly and professionally in accordance with the principles of democracy and fairness as well as the criteria that it had used in the constituency delineation. However, it is disappointing that till today, I have not received any reply or response from Datuk Rashid. Rashid should know that, after throwing a public challenge, his unwillingness to argue the case out with me would only tarnish the EC’s credibility and image. I have said that I am prepared to accept Datuk Rashid’s challenge because the question does not only concern the interest of the Kota Melaka people, it also involves the spirit of democracy, the principle of fairness and the public image of the EC. The EC Chairman’s failure to fulfill his promise to argue things out with those who have accepted his challenge is therefore an act of irresponsibility. It is undeniable that the EC knows fully well that it has been a constant target of criticism with regard to the question of playing the neutral role of the elections umpire. Hence, he should realize that if he is not prepared to argue the question of the Kota Melaka parliamentary delineation exercise with m e, the natural conclusions made by the public wll only be detrimental to the credibility of the EC and further strengthen the public negative perceptions against the EC. It has really puzzled me that the original delineation proposals which the EC has drawn up for the Kota Melaka constituency has been amended with extensive changes, especially so when making vast changes to the original proposals is a clear departure from traditional EC practices. This is an issue which I wish to remind the EC that I am prepared to pursue till the end unless the EC can satisfactorily answer to the following questions: what criteria and factors were taken into consideration when the EC made the original alterations to the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency? what objections were raised by the Melaka state government that convinced the EC to make extensive changes to the original proposals? why the EC has decided not hold a local enquiry in accordance with Section 5 of Part II Thirteen Schedule of the Federal Constitution after 113 voters of Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency have submitted their written objections to the amended proposals? (27/2/2003) * Kerk Kim Hock, DAP Secretary General & MP for Kota Melaka