SHAH ALAM: The Election Commission’s (EC) local inquiry and second round of public hearing on the proposed redelineation exercise in Selangor is scheduled to end tomorrow.
Its chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah, however, said the discussion could prolong beyond March 1, subject to the outcome of the hearing.
Following this, he said, the EC will hold a special meeting to deliberate on the matters and objections raised over the proposed redelineation exercise.
“We need to relook and reconsider certain objections and issues raised before coming up with the final report (on the nationwide redelineation proposal),” he said when met at Concorde Hotel here today.
Hashim said the final report would then be presented to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for his consideration.
“We only come up with a proposal. The prime minister will make a decision if he wants to accept the proposal, and then table it in the Dewan Rakyat for approval. Our job is done with the submission of the report to the premier.”
Asked on the possible date of report completion and submission to Najib, Hashim said: “We cannot estimate or give a date at the moment. As I have said earlier, we cannot say if the hearing will end tomorrow. It’s a long procedure till the submission of the final report.”
The second round of the public hearing on the objections started on Feb 26.
Hashim said the Selangor state government representatives were expected to attend the public hearing session tomorrow.
“We (EC) try our level best to accommodate all parties to hear their concerns and suggestions. To date, we have met with political parties from both sides of the divide, local councils and relevant parties.”
The last time a redelineation exercise was done in Selangor was in 2003. It should have been held in 2011, but was postponed to focus on the 13th General Election, which was held on May 5, 2013.
Article 1139(2)(ii) of the Federal Constitution states that redelineation of constituencies should be made at an interval of not less than eight years between the completion of one review and the date of commencement of the next review. It should not exceed 10 years.
Back in 2003, the final report on the redelineation exercise was submitted to former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on March 10, who tabled it at the Dewan Rakyat on April 3.
Meanwhile, an online portal quoted Selangor Pakatan Harapan election director Dr Xavier Jayakumar as saying that Selangor Pakatan Harapan and Bersih had submitted more than 250 objections to the EC. Only 40 objections had been discussed.