"State BN, PBB obviously benefit from re-delineation of state electoral boundaries"

KUCHING, Jan 7, 2015:  The  proposed re-delineation of the state electoral boundaries to accommodate the 11 additional seats for Sarawak "obviously benefits the State Barisan Nasional, particularly Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB)", it is suggested.

See Chee How, State PKR vice chairman, made the suggestion when he asked Chief Minister Adenan Satem to raise and voice objection to the Election Commission’s proposals on the re-delineation of state constituencies  to show that he is a principled leader that cares for the constitutional rights and interests of all Sarawakians.

See: Re-delineation exercise "obviously benefits PBB"

"We are not objecting to any increase in the number of state or parliamentary seats, but we are agreeable with re-delineation of constituencies throughout the country to ensure that voting is a more equitable and fairer reflection of the basic tenet of parliamentary democracy, “One person one vote” while giving due consideration to rural and regional needs," he said.

See, who is also Batu Lintang state lawmaker, questioned the lack of information for the ordinary voters on the proposed re-delineation exercise which affects majority of the state constituencies, not limiting to the 11 new state seats.

He said the lack of information is a serious violation of the commission's constitutional duty and obligation to all Sarawakians.

"The malapportionment and gerrymandering hidden under the re-delineation process, which is completely devoid of accountability and transparency, are an affront to the values of good governance.

"For example, the re-delineation exercise  involving the Batang Sadong Parliamentary constituency which has 20,977 voters,  now has three state constituencies, including the new seat of Gedong having merely 6,340 voters, is completely nonsensical," he added.

The state seats of Simunjan and Sadong Jaya as well as Batang Sadong parliamentary seat are held by PBB.

With Gedong being proposed as a new seat, it is almost 100% that it will go to PBB, with Malays being the majority voters.

See stressed: "If this commission's proposal is approved, the Chief Minister and his party, PBB, will be heavily criticised of having a hand in the delimitation and delineation proposal which is infested with malapportionment and gerrymandering.

"Adenan should therefore show his leadership in voicing and registering his concerns and objection to the proposed electoral re-delineation affecting Sarawak.

" I would even urge him to support  a civil society which called itself "Concerned Sarawakians" to take legal proceedings to ensure that the constitutional rights and interests of Sarawakians are safeguarded, by delaying the publication of the delineation proposal for Sarawak until the national delimitation and delineation proposal for the country is completed," he said.