Bersih: Redelineation benefits Umno's dominance

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) feels that past redelineation exercises done by the Election Commission (EC) have benefited BN and specifically Umno.

Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said past redelineations were done to maintain the dominant political party.

Former Bersih steering committee member Wong Chin Huat pointed out that the new seats as a result of the redelineation favoured Umno.

“Following the last redelineation exercise in 2003, Umno got 65 percent of the allocation of the total of new seats, and 53.42 percent of parliamentary seats alone.

“In the last general election, Umno and BN’s second largest component party PBB together won 46 percent of parliamentary seats with only 32 percent of the votes. Any increase of seats will make it more likely for Umno and PBB to form a simple majority government with fewer votes - say 30 percent,” said Wong.

'No increase in seats, fairer delineation needed'

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) said there is no need to increase the number of parliamentary and state constituencies, but the Election Commission needs to improve its management in drawing up the electoral borders.

Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said countries like the United States and India had seen a rise in population but the number of elected representatives have remained the same.

“India has capped its size to 552 members, and former Bersih steering committee member Wong Chin Huat has pointed out that our MPs met for only 561 hours or about 2 hours 32 minutes per lawmaker to debate. If there is an increase in the House, this would result in less time for debates on a bill,” she said.

“What is needed is for the EC to improve on its management in drawing up the borders so that we do not have incidences of having people living in one house but voting in two constituencies. If you are located along the coastal area you must be with other voters with a similar environment. Presently the EC is doing it very arbitrarily to maintain the dominance of the ruling coalition,” she said.

Bersih still wants EC commissioners to quit

Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah has reiterated urgings for the present Election Commission (EC) commissioners to resign and be replaced by civil society representatives, professionals and people who have experience in electoral reforms.

Maria said they need not be replaced by civil servants as presently being done.

"We want people with integrity and committed to making sure that the elections will be clean and fair," she said at a press conference at the Duta court complex.

"Hence, their replacement need not be all civil servants but also include civil society groups, professionals and people who are committed to electoral reforms."