Azmin prefers legal action to snap poll in Selangor

SHAH ALAM: Selangor has shot down DAP’s proposal to hold a snap election following the proposed redelineation of constituencies by the Election Commission (EC).

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (pic) said such a move was not necessary as the mandate given by the people in the 2013 polls was massive.

“I cannot betray the mandate that was given,” he said.

“So, there is no need for a state election,” Azmin told reporters at the monthly assembly here yesterday.

Azmin was commenting on a call by DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang for Selangor to hold a snap election following the redelineation proposal that was alleged to have deliberately changed the map of the state.

Apart from Lim, several other Opposition coalition leaders also questioned the redelineation exercise announced by the EC on Thursday. It was seen as a move to ensure Barisan Nasional wins at the next general election.

Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, said the party was instead mulling legal action against the EC’s exercise.

“If we look at the proposal made by EC, it does not guarantee the democratic rights of any citizen in our country.

“I am meeting with lawyers to see if we have the grounds to take legal action against those who are responsible for proposing such a redelineation, which has no regards for voters’ rights,” he said, adding that all parties and voters had the legitimate right to object to the exercise.

Under the redelineation, EC is also proposing a new seat – Damansara, which encompases the Petaling Jaya Utara seat with more than 150,000 voters.

PAS, however, is open to the proposal for a snap poll in Selangor following the “weird move by the EC”.

Its secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said a snap-poll was an option that PAS would be looking at following the EC’s announcement.

“The proposal by EC will now be studied by the party’s election machinery committee, headed by Election Director Datuk Mustafa Ali, on Saturday.

“Our political bureau will meet on Sept 28 to decide our next plan of action,” he added.

“Generally, we are not for it and we think that it is weird.

“But it is important that we discuss the issue with other Opposition parties,” he added.

Earlier, in a statement, Lim said Pakatan Harapan should consider holding a snap poll in Selangor following the redelineation exercise.

Lim also added that the Opposition coalition would have to consider the possibility of such a move, as the redelineation proposal “mangled and butchered the map of Selangor”.

“The exercise is making history by making the voter disparity in electoral constituencies even greater than before – which is clearly not intended by the Constitution.”