The DAP will file a protest with the Election Commission (EC) over what it claims to be "unjustifiable" amendments to the proposed redelineation of electoral boundaries currently o­n display for a month until mid-February.

DAP secreta ry-general Kerk Kim Hock wants the commission to justify its claims that the amendments were based o­n public feedback obtained late last year.

"It is strange for the EC to amend its original proposal because in the past, it has almost always maintained it," he said when contacted today. "We want to know who is in control of the decision to amend the earlier proposal."

Kerk, who is Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka, described the amendment to the proposals contained in the preliminary reports he received from the EC as "an unusual phenomenon".

"The fresh proposals entail substantial changes in the form of transfers of polling districts involving thousands of voters."

Strongholds removed

Kerk said that in the first set, the commission had proposed for Malim and Taman Asean, two DAP strongholds in Malacca, to be moved from the Batu Berendam parliamentary constituency to Kota Melaka.

The commission also proposed that the Duyong area, a weak area for the DAP, to be moved out of the Kota Melaka seat.

"The original proposal would have definitely strengthened the party's chances in retaining the Kota Melaka seat, judging by voting patterns," he said.

"However, in the revised proposals, the EC has not o­nly taken out Malim and Taman Asean and returned Duyong, it has also included the Limbongan area, thus reducing our chances of retaining what has been a DAP seat since 1969."

Citing another example, Kerk said the commission had recommended the removal of two DAP strongholds Medan Imbi and Kg Loke Yuen and to add the weak area of San Peng Flats under the Bukit Bintang parliamentary constituency in Kuala Lumpur.

Although the commission has the power to make any proposal it deems suitable, Kerk said he was perturbed as to why it had abandoned all grounds, justification, basis and rationale for its initial proposals.

Previous trend

Kerk said that, in the past, the EC has usually rejected appeals or protests o­n the basis that full consideration would have been taken in drawing up the boundary changes.

He claimed that previous redelineation exercises had maintained the original proposals, except in cases where the name of the constituency needs to be revised or where a minor transfer of polling districts is involved.

Senior commission officials could not be reached for comment today as they were said to be out of the office.

Last Thursday, the New Straits Times quoted EC secretary Wan Ahmad Wan Omar urging Malaysians to accept the amended proposals.

The original proposals was up for public display last August and following public feedback in October and November, the commission drew up fresh proposals.

The redelineation report is expected to be completed by the end of next month with the new electoral boundaries coming into force in June.

In August, Wan Ahmad had said that while the EC was o­nly allowed to make revisions to create new parliamentary and state seats based o­n voter population, other factors such as the number of voters, the physical area and accessibility issues also played a role.

The commission came under heavy fire as it was seen to be biased in favour of the ruling Barisan Nasional government.