Umno supreme council member Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s gerrymandering accusation against former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad vindicates claims that the Election Commission (EC) is a “tool” of the ruling party, the DAP says.

 

“Truly, Ismail Sabri’s statement should be viewed as a serious matter.

 

“Although many academicians, NGO activists and politicians have earlier shown proof of gerrymandering of electoral boundaries, the EC and the government have roundly denied the claims,” Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said today.

 

“However, Ismail Sabri’s admission is proof that the EC is a political tool of Umno-BN to enable them to win 60 percent of the parliamentary seats with just 48 percent of the popular vote in the 13th general election,” Zairil said in a statement.

 

Yesterday, Ismail who is the agriculture and agro‑based industry minister, attacked the former PM for undermining Malay constituencies by making them mixed constituencies.

 

His remark is seen to be aimed at defending Prime Minister Najib Razak against Mahathir’s most vicious attacks to date over the past weeks.

However, the Election Commission (EC) today denied Ismail's claim , saying the mixed seats were due to voter movement and not from any interference by the commission.

"There is no gerrymandering in our electoral borders," EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusofsaid at a press conference today, waving the minister's allegation away as "politics".

Gerrymandering is explained as the result of adjusting electoral borders to include or exclude certain populations, rather than the movement of voters from one constituency to another.

'EC needs overhaul'

 

Zairil however said Ismail’s revelation was “not surprising”.

 

“When it is uttered by someone who is a federal minister and an Umno supreme council member, who feels no shame or guilt in admitting how a commission that is supposed to be free had independent has been abused by the government to manipulate the elections in the country, the implication is very great.”

 

He added Ismail’s admission implies the election results up to now are now invalid, “not only from a moral standpoint but also from the legal perspective”.

 

He surmised that this would mean the BN government is not fit to represent Malaysians and to make any policy decisions, such as the burdensome Goods and Services Tax (GST).

 

Zairil said this also means the EC is not fit to regulate electoral matters, “including the process of redelineation” that is currently in progress.

 

The Bukit Bendera MP called on the redelineation process to be halted pending a total reform of the EC “to make it an institution that is truly independent”.

 

Taking a swipe at Umno, Zairil added the admission also shows Umno “has never been interested in placing the interests of the Malay race as their struggle” but is only looking after its own interests.

 

“With this expose, what has Perkasa and Isma have to say? Will they continue to defend Najib and Umno as the defenders of their race?” he asked.