KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — The Election Commission (EC) said today that the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold its proposed redrawing of Sarawak’s electoral boundaries proves that the exercise had been conducted in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
In a statement after the ruling, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the commission will now proceed with the exercise and prepare a final report for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“The EC respects the court’s decision as well as the right of the respondents to prepare its appeal to the Federal Court,” he said.
“At this time, the EC does not have the right to issue any comment on the defendant’s next move, whether or not it decides to appeal the appellate court’s decision,” he added.
Earlier today, a three-man Court of Appeal bench ruled that the notice given by the EC to redraw Sarawak’s electoral boundaries did not breach constitutional rights and was in line with the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution, overturning the Kuching High Court verdict that nullified the redelineation exercise.
In an immediate response, polls watchdog Bersih 2.0 said the court’s decision effectively paves the way for gerrymandering by the election regulator.
Group chairman Maria Chin Abdullah alleged that the EC was looking to increase the number of state seats in Sarawak, which must face state polls by next June, from 71 to 82 without proper explanation.
She also said that the right of voters to scrutinise and to object to the EC’s recommendations have been “severely undermined”, making the whole process a “mere formality without real check and balance”.
Maria Chin added that the decision today might make the outcome of the next election a foregone conclusion, amid claims of gerrymandering.
Bersih 2.0 is also looking to file an appeal with the Federal Court over today’s decision, she added, as she urged Malaysians to join the group’s rally on August 29 to show their outrage.
