Sarawak PKR today questioned the motive of the Election Commission (EC) for its second notice to publicise its revised recommendations on the 11 new state seats it proposes for the Sarawak state assembly.

“It is illogical for the EC to issue the second notice to publicise the revised proposed recommendations commencing today,”state PKR vice-chairperson See Chee How said in a statement.

See said: “The EC is urged to be respectful of the rule of law and the judiciary in Malaysia, that it should withhold its second notice to publicise its revised recommendations for the electoral boundary delineation until the High Court in Kuching has made a decision on an application for judicial review to challenge the earlier notice of the electoral boundary review.

“The Kuching High Court is scheduled to deliver its decision on May 14 or 21. Parties are now in the process of preparing and submitting their legal arguments to the High Court.”

See ( left ), the Batu Lintang assemblyperson, is one of those who have taken legal action against the Election Commission for failure to publish the details of the proposed 11 new seats.

He said they did not want to speculate on the outcome of the court’s decision, but it was prudent and reasonable for the EC to put on hold its second notice, and any subsequent electoral boundary review proceedings, pending the outcome of the court’s decision.

'Remember the court decision'

“The EC should remember the court has granted leave for the judicial review, that its notices and decisions, actions or omissions are questionable under any judicial review.

“In the event that the first notice is adjudged to be wrongful and void, much valuable public funds and human resources expended into the delineation review exercise will be wasted,” he said.

By ignoring the proceedings of the judicial review in the High Court in Kuching and persisting in publishing the second notice on its revised recommendations for the electoral boundary delineation, See said, the Election Commission was only showing itself to be aloof and pompous.

“In all good conscience and rationality, I appeal to EC chief Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof to withdraw the second notice and put the review process on hold,” he said.

Election Commission officers were not available for comment on this.

The proposed 11 news state seats will increase the number of the Sarawak State Assembly seats from 71 to 82, with these 82 seats expected to be contested in the coming state election, which is expected to be held before June 2016.