Bersih supports re-delineation but…

Electoral reform watchdog Bersih 2.0 stated that they are merely stating facts when calling for amendments to the Federal Constitution be made before the implementation of re-delineation.

They were responding to the minister in Prime Minister’s department Nancy Shukri’s dismissal of Bersih’s demands related to the re-delineation exercise, due to take place in March, as ‘politicising.’

“Nancy appears to have failed to appreciate that it is a basic tenet of democracy for there to be disagreements. Disagreeing with the past and present actions of the EC is not “politicking”.

“Bersih 2.0 is not politicising the issue of electoral reforms but simply stating the facts of the bias and unjust measures used in the delineation which starkly favours one dominant political party,” Bersih said in a statement

Four days ago Nancy claimed that Bersih was politicising the exercise.

“I think politicians, be they from the right wing or left wing, should not be politicising things too much, as it doesn’t help our people to develop.

“I think it is unfair for them (Bersih to stop the Election Commission’s re-delineation exercise).

“They should be the ones giving good proposals on the re-delineation exercise,” she said, on the objection made by Bersih against the redelineation exercise by EC.

On Jan 16, Bersih had announced that it would take the Election Commission (EC) to court if the redelineation exercise is conducted before amending Article 46 of the 13th schedule in the Federal Constitution, which determines the number of parliamentary seats.

“We wish to clarify that Bersih’s action to file a court injunction to stop the redelineation is conditional,” the group said.

The five demands made earlier by Bersih are; no increase of legislative seats in total, no unconstitutional mal-apportionment, no gerrymandering, no “tele-porting” of voters and the immediate resignation of all EC members. -FMT