Penang is worried that the Election Commission (EC) will conduct a state constituency re-delineation exercise, similar to the one it announced in Sarawak.

On Monday, the EC announced that Sarawak would have an increase of 11 state seats.

The fear is compounded by the EC's refusal to meet the Penang state-appointed committee on re-delineation, despite the committee requesting for a meeting in November.

Tanjung MP Ng Wei Aik expressed disappointment that the EC had failed to consult with state representatives before its recommendations - including re-delineation maps - or seat increases, if any, are to be put up for public display.

“Till today, the entire re-delineation exercise and its procedures have not been transparent, and not inclusive of state stakeholders," Ng ( left ) said a press conference today.

"The EC's refusal to meet us or discuss the matter with official state stakeholders, has undermined its credibility as a supposedly independent and responsible organisation," he added.

He further explained that the seat increase in Sarawak did not fulfil the spirit of "one man, one vote, one value".

"The margin of difference between seats should not exceed 33 percent, but now we see that they are between 75 and 85 percent," Ng noted.

"For example, the difference in votes between newly proposed seats Gedung (6,340) and Batu Kitang (20,107), is about 215 percent," he pointed out.

Public confidence 'totally shattered'

This is despite both seats being similar in geographical area, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, PKR's Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said that public confidence in the EC has been "totally shattered" with the Sarawak exercise.

This is why the Penang state officials had wanted to meet with the EC, to ensure that such a scenario does not take place in this state as well.

Asked whether the EC could add seats in Penang - since such a proposal would have to be passed by the state legislative assembly - Sim ( right ) replied, "Anything can happen. How the EC conducts the delineation exercise remains a mystery.

"It is very obvious, from the Saawak case, that the EC wants to help certain political parties to win in certain constituencies."

With the proposed 11 new state seats, the Sarawak assembly would have 82 seats.

The new seats are Batu Kitang, Stakan, Serumbu, Triboh, Gedong, Kabong, Tellian, Selirik, Murum, Samalaju and Long Lama.