KUALA LUMPUR: Allegations that the unity government will increase the number of parliamentary seats from 222 to 300 are baseless, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi said this after Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said at a ceramah last night that the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) government would amend the Federal Constitution to increase the number of parliamentary seats if it wons the Pulai by-election on Sept 9.
"As part of the unity government cabinet, this is the first time that I've heard of this number (300 constituencies).
"I'm not sure where he got the information from. I'm not aware of this matter, despite being one a cabinet members.
"For me, it is just wishful thinking from his side," he told reporters after attending the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya-level Kita Madani Programme at Pantai Eco Park Community Centre here.
Fahmi said Muhyiddin's statement could be seen as an attempt to frighten the voters of the Pulai by-election.
He said Muhyiddin should have raised the matter during the coming Dewan Rakyat sitting.
"He (Muhyiddin) can ask the prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) about the matter. He will get a clear and exact answer from the prime minister.
"(And) I would like to remind him: Jangan ponteng parlimen (do not skip Parliament) and please ask questions during PMQT (Prime Minister Question Time).
"Jangan malas, jangan culas (don't be lazy)," he said.
Muhyiddin had said at the ceramah that there were concerns about a possible redelineation of electoral boundaries.
The last redelineation exercise was in 2018, prior to the 14th General Election, after a motion was passed in the Dewan Rakyat to address voter imbalance in constituencies.
Redelineating electoral boundaries is governed by section 4(2) of the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution.