6.
REDELINEATION
Based on the issues that were raised, the Commission had forwarded its
recommendations to EC for consideration as follows:
i)
Revising Electoral Districts and Size of Constituencies
A Handbook on the Legal, Technical and Human Rights Aspect of
Elections prepared by Centre for Human Rights Geneva clearly stated
that the process of delimitation should respect the international norm
of equal suffrage and not be designed to dilute or discount the votes of
any particular groups or areas. The procedures taken should be fair and
take into account the range of information which includes among other,
the available census data, territorial integrity, geographical distribution
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Following that, the Commission conducted an internal discussion with
several experts to obtain further information on this matter. The Commission
also held a roundtable discussion (RTD) on the Proposed Redelineation by
EC with the relevant government agencies, political parties, academician
and civil society organisations (CSOs) on 8 February. The Commission had
extended its invitation to EC to participate in the RTD as well. However, the
Commission was made to understand by EC that the subject matter was
currently pending in court and therefore, to avoid any sub-judice, EC would
not be attending the said RTD. The Commission on the other hand was of
the view that the discussion on the subject matter should be proceeded as
it may not in any way influent any court in their decision.
C H A P T E R
On 13 September 2016, a press release was issued by the Election Commission
(EC) stating that it would carry out a review of the redelineation of electoral
boundaries for parliamentary and state seats in the Peninsula and Sabah.
The review would be conducted based on the provisions of Clause (2) Article
113 of the Federal Constitution and amendments to Clause (2) Article 14
of the Sabah State Constitution, which was gazetted on 18 August 2016.
Subsequently, on 4 October 2016, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
(the Commission) received a memorandum from YB Nurul Izzah (Lembah
Pantai), YB Charles Santiago (Klang) and YB Dr. Hatta Ramli (Kuala Krai) with
regard to redelineation exercise that was currently undertaken by EC.