EC answers allegations on elections, redelineation

PUTRAJAYA — March 13, 2018: The Election Commission today dismissed allegations that the election system and the redelineation of electoral boundaries are designed to favour certain political parties in the next general elections.

In doing so EC Chairman Tan Sri Mohd. Hashim Abdullah pointed out that all the systems, from registration of voters to the conduct of elections and redelineation are transparent and fair.

Hence he referred to claims in an article in The Economist as baseless and intended to confuse. The article entitled “How Malaysia’s Next Election Will Be Rigged” was published on March 8.

According to Hashim, the history of elections had proven that redelineation was not the determining factor in the victory of any candidate as had happened in Selangor, Penang, Kelantan, Kedah, Terengganu and Perak which had been administered by the opposition.

He pointed out that gerrymandering and malapportionment were often used as the excuse by some to blame the EC for allegedly delineating a constituency with the aim of giving victory to a particular party.

On malapportionment or the creation of electoral seats of unequal size, Hashim said the formula for comparison often used by those making the allegations were improper and again intended to confuse.

 

For the next elections or GE14, it is estimated that over 200,000 agents of candidates or parties will be stationed at almost 30,000 polling stations to monitor nominations and voting.

In this regard, the EC wishes to advise every candidate or party to appoint an adequate number of representatives as observers/agents to witness that the electoral process is transparent and fair. — Bernama