Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said an application was filed yesterday at the Penang High Court, seeking to quash the Election Commission’s (EC) current redelineation exercise.
According to lawyer for the Penang government, Leong Cheok Keng, the state government sought 18 types of relief and a stay on the latest redelineation being brought to the prime minister.
The redelineation proposal is usually tabled by the PM at the Dewan Rakyat and brought to a vote.
“We are basically asking the court to get the EC to use the old electoral map and compel the EC to come up with fresh electoral boundaries which are fair.
“And by fair, we mean there is equal representation and no disconnect between communities.
“Currently, the new EC proposal is bad. There is malapportionment, which is very bad. It is time for them to review this mistake.
“So, we are asking for a mandamus order to force the EC to come up with a new proposal,” Leong told reporters at Komtar today.
Leong is DAP assemblyman for Malim Nawar in Perak.
Among the objections raised in the Penang government’s suit were that the EC was not carrying out redelineation efforts as per provisions in the federal constitution; malapportionment, especially in “under-represented” and “over-represented” seats; disruption of local affairs, as most government agencies are run based on state seats; and the ignorance of the EC over “effective proposals” sent in by the Penang government.
In March, Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari sought a judicial review on the EC’s redelineation exercise in Penang.
In his application, Zairil contended that the EC’s delineation exercise had not addressed the “malapportionment of constituencies” in the state.
He also sought a declaration that the EC’s failure to redelineate the divisions and boundaries of Bukit Bendera, Tanjung Bungah, Air Putih, Kebun Bunga and Pulau Tikus seats was unconstitutional.
However, the High Court here refused his request to grant leave to challenge the redelineation, as the exercise had yet to be finalised.
Last September, Penang Government Electoral Redelineation Committee members Sim Tze Tzin and Ng Wei Aik were told by state EC officials that only the Balik Pulau and Kepala Batas seats would undergo major changes.
Protests against the EC’s latest redelineation plan can be filed by the state government, local authorities or a group of no less than 100 registered voters in any affected constituency.