Bersih: Redelineation favours Umno's dominance
Hafiz YatimPublished: Jan 16, 2014 2:49 PM | Updated: Jan 16, 2014 5:57 PM
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) feels that past redelineation exercises by the Election Commission (EC) have benefitted BN and specifically Umno.
UPDATED 6PM
In 2003, Umno got 65 percent of the new seats.
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) feels that past redelineation exercises by the Election Commission (EC) have benefitted 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 (left) pointed out that the new seats as a result of the redelineations favoured Umno.
"Following the last redelineation exercise in 2003, Umno got 65 percent of the allocation of the total 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," he said.
Wong also said his research between 1958 and 2003 showed an increase in dominance of Umno being given the new seats with exception of the 1973 re-delineation.
He added that the 1973 re-delineation exercise saw Umno conceding some seats to PAS when the latter joined BN for a short period.
"Between 1958 and 2003, the highest percentage of new seats which Umno got was in 1984 when it obtained 73.91 per cent that included an additional 17 parliamentary seats," he said.
Wong added the misconception that when there is an increase in population there should be more seats or elected representatives is not correct as since 1911, the American population increased three-folds but its House of Representatives remain the same with 435.
At present, the political scientist said the ratio of a parliamentarian represents about 60,000 voters.
What is needed, he added, is improvement in reducing gerrymandering and disproportionate seat allocation.
Wong also noted that the EC did not follow the constitutional guidelines resulting in super-large constituencies.
He showed that Kuala Kedah covers an area of 231.81 square km of 73,942 voters in 2003 compared to Baling that covers an area of 1,542.77 square km with 72,387 voters.
Meanwhile, Maria reiterated that hence Bersih rejects EC's announcement to cap metropolitan constituencies at 100,000 being a gimmick to mislead the public.
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 (left) pointed out that the new seats as a result of the redelineations favoured Umno."Following the last redelineation exercise in 2003, Umno got 65 percent of the allocation of the total 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," he said.
Wong also said his research between 1958 and 2003 showed an increase in dominance of Umno being given the new seats with exception of the 1973 re-delineation.
He added that the 1973 re-delineation exercise saw Umno conceding some seats to PAS when the latter joined BN for a short period.
"Between 1958 and 2003, the highest percentage of new seats which Umno got was in 1984 when it obtained 73.91 per cent that included an additional 17 parliamentary seats," he said.
Wong added the misconception that when there is an increase in population there should be more seats or elected representatives is not correct as since 1911, the American population increased three-folds but its House of Representatives remain the same with 435.
At present, the political scientist said the ratio of a parliamentarian represents about 60,000 voters.
What is needed, he added, is improvement in reducing gerrymandering and disproportionate seat allocation.
Wong also noted that the EC did not follow the constitutional guidelines resulting in super-large constituencies.
He showed that Kuala Kedah covers an area of 231.81 square km of 73,942 voters in 2003 compared to Baling that covers an area of 1,542.77 square km with 72,387 voters.
Meanwhile, Maria reiterated that hence Bersih rejects EC's announcement to cap metropolitan constituencies at 100,000 being a gimmick to mislead the public.
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