Selangor assembly slams EC over redelineation exercise

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor state assembly has passed an emergency motion condemning the Election Commission (EC) over the redelineation exercise.

Selangor Speaker Hannah Yeoh has written to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to inform him of the motion.

The motion, which was tabled by Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran, described the new boundary lines for the parliamentary and state constituencies as “unjust”.

It also called for the EC to retract its proposed redelineation boundaries and submit another with “balanced electoral zones”.

In debating the motion, Seri Andalas assemblyman Dr Xavier Jayakumar alleged that the motive behind the redelineation was suspicious.

“It is not done by the EC to ensure justice or save the country. It is done by a group to win or they think and believe they can win,” he said.

Talking to reporters after the tabling, Dr Xavier called the redelineation exercise the “fastest motion” passed by Parliament in the country’s history.

He said the tabling of the motion in Dewan Rakyat was sub judice as there were at least four pending suits in different courts.

The Court of Appeal will deliver its verdict today on the Selangor government’s appeal over its legal challenge against the exercise.

The decision, which was scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed to today after Justice Ahmadi Ahmad said the judges needed time to go through the submissions.

However, the passing of the EC report yesterday makes the Court of Appeal’s decision purely academic.