Electoral boundary amendments: DAP to protest
against the unusual phenomenon
Press Statement
by Kerk Kim Hock
(Petaling Jaya,
Wednesday):
It has been a traditional trend in the past electoral constituency
delineation exercises that the original proposals made by the Election
Commission would basically remain intact.
In the past, after the holding of local enquiries, the revised changes would
usually involve minor changes like the changes of names of constituencies or
minor transferring of polling districts.
The reason cited for such trend in the past is that the Election Commission
had taken into all considerations before coming up with its proposals and
that was why it would always stand by its original proposals, unless there
were very valid and justifiable grounds.
However, from the preliminary reports which I have received, I have noted an
unusual phenomenon in this year’s revised electoral boundary proposals, that
is, the fresh proposals involve substantial changes in the form of transfers
of polling districts involving thousands of voters.
In its original proposals this year, the Election Commission has proposed
that Malim and Taman Asean areas which were previously in the Batu Berendam
parliamentary constituency be included in the Kota Melaka parliamentary
constituency. The existing Duyong area was also taken out.
Such original proposals have definitely strengthened the DAP’s chances in
retaining the Kota Melaka seat, judging by the voting tendencies of the
newly added and removed polling districts.
However, in the revised proposals, the Election Commission has not only
taken out the Malim and Taman Asean areas and put back the Duyung area, it
has also included the Limbongan area. thus reducing our chances of retaining
the DAP seat which has always been won by the DAP since 1969.
In addition , the Election Commission‘s proposal has caused the total number
of voters in the parliamentary constituency to exceed 80,000 voters, thus
further violating the principle of one-man one vote.
I have been informed by Sdr Fong Kui Lun ( DAP MP fro Bukit Bintang ) that
in his constituency, the Election Commission has also, in its fresh
proposal, recommended that the DAP ‘s strongholds of Medan Imbi and Kg Loke
Yuen areas be taken out, while our weak area Sam Peng Flats have been added.
The Election Commission of course has the power to make any proposals which
it deems suitable. However, the important question that arises now is that
for the Kota Melaka and Bukit Bintang parliamentary constituencies, why has
the Election Commission decided to abandon all its ground, justification,
basis and rationale for its initial proposals, especially when in the past,
appeals have always not been accepted on the ground that the Election
Commission has taken the fullest consideration in drawing up the electoral
boundary changes.
DAP will ask the Election Commission to justify what public feedback has it
obtained for it to completely abandon its ground for the earlier proposals
made for the Kota Melaka and Bukit Bintang constituencies.
(22/1/2003)
* Kerk Kim Hock,
DAP Secretary General and MP for Kota Melaka
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