'Boundary Commission' mooted to oversee redelineation exercise

A think-tank has proposed the setting up of a Boundary Commission to supervise the redelineation of constituencies, saying the task should not be left solely to the embattled Election Commission.

Political Studies for Change (KPRU) said that its research showed that such a commission is present in most countries including Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada and India, in reviewing and redrawing election boundaries "fairly and efficiently".

The group cited New Zealand's seven-member Representation Commission which includes the Surveyor-General, limiting role of politicians in the exercise.

KPRU said allegations of massive frauds in the recent 13th general election had led to worries that the impending redelineation exercise by the EC would not be done in a transparent manner.

"Hence, in KPRU’s point of view, EC is no longer eligible to carry out electoral constituencies redelineation. Segregation of duties is needed and the EC should instead focusing on the implementation of a clean, free and fair election at both federal and state levels," it added.

Last month, director of University of Malaya's Centre for Democracy and Elections, Redzuan Othman, warned that the next redelineation exercise by the EC could see more seats carved out of Felda settlements in an effort to deliver more parliamentary seats to the BN, which narrowly won the recent polls.

According to the Federal Constitution, a period of at least eight years is imposed between two redelineation exercises, and a two-year mandatory deadline for the process to be completed.

However, getting the redelineation to be approved this time could be a problem since it needs two-third parliamentary support which the ruling coalition lost after 2008. -HD