The Election Commission (EC) has denied a claim by a PKR MP that it would be tabling a motion on delineation in Parliament.
 
PKR's Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Sin had said earlier today that he expected the EC to table a motion for an electoral delineation exercise when Parliament reconvenes next month.

But EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof (right) dismissed the claim.

"Not true," he told Malaysiakini today when asked if the EC would table such a motion.

However, Abdul Aziz said that even if the EC was ready for the re-delineation exercise, it did not need to go that route.

"To start the process, there will merely be a notice period, and then it will be gazetted," he said.

Earlier, Sim predicted that EC would table a motion to increase the amount of seats for the lower house.
 
The delineation exercise will determine the survival of the country’s two-party system, the Bayan Baru MP added.
 
"(After) the 2002 seat delimitation exercise, BN won 25 of the new seats while the DAP only won one seat (in the 2004 general election)," said Sim (left). 
 
According to the federal constitution, there must be an interval of not less than eight years between two re-delineation exercises, with a mandatory deadline of two years for the process to be completed.
 
After the exercise, the EC needs a two-thirds majority support in Parliament and the state assemblies for the new constituency boundaries to be approved.

Sim also informed that a forum on delineation will be held this Saturday at the Penang state assembly building, starting 8pm.
 
"Is seat delineation fair in Malaysia? Will a 2014 seat increase bring true democracy? Why do political parties support seat increase? How are we the people participate in this constitutional process? These are among the questions to be discussed," he said.
 
Speakers include Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat, Nibong Tebal MP Mansor Othman and Tindak Malaysia's PY Wong.


Related stories

Umno retains P Kubor with higher majority

PAS: Infighting not reason for P Kubor loss

PKR Youth takes on PAS Youth as spat continues

PAS Youth nabs suspected 'phantom voter'

P Kubor by-election calm, without incident

72pct of P Kubor voters have come out as at 4pm