The Penang government has formed a task force to study the recent redelineation exercise by the Election Commission (EC) to see whether it has any impact on the state's current 13 parliamentary seats.

MPs Ng Wei Aik (DAP-Tanjung), Sim Tze Tzin (PKR-Bayan Baru) and Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Parti Amanah Negara-Parit Buntar) have been tasked to study the boundaries affected by the EC exercise.

"The exercise has put some of our seats in critical and dangerous positions," Sim told reporters today when met at the Penang EC office at Weld Quay, George Town.

"Most of the seats affected may be those under Pakatan Harapan," he added.

According to the EC, the Penang redelineation exercise affects only two parliamentary seats - Kepala Batas and Balik Pulau, currently held by Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Hilmy Yahaya respectively.

Ng and Sim met with Penang EC director Mohd Fuad Sherif, who informed them that the exercise was done due to an increase in population in the affected constituencies.

However the Pakatan MPs are concerned that the boundary shifts would encroach into neighbouring constituencies that they hold, such as Tasek Gelugor (bordering Kepala Batas) and Bayan Baru and Bukit Gelugor (bordering Balik Pulau).

To study voters registry

The MPs are also asking for the 2013 voters registry to compare it with the latest voters registry, and the map for the new boundaries to see how they have been shifted to ensure there is no incident of "malapportionment and gerrymandering".

They reminded the EC that any redelineation must be carried out based on two principles, that of the principle of 'one man, one vote' and one value, and that any boundary shift must be fair and effective to the state and parliamentary seats.

The task force will study the maps thoroughly and present a report with recommendations to the state government, as the period to send in their protests to the EC lasts until Oct 15.

"If our protests are not heeded by the EC, we will challenge them in court, " Sim said.

Earlier, before the MPs met Mohd Fuad, Ng said the political parties needed more information from the EC to see how the boundary shift would impact the current constituencies.

He noted that there are three levels of protest to the EC that must be submitted, that is by the state government, local councils and a group of 100 voters.

"We have been asking to meet the EC for discussions since 2014, but the response has been unfavourable.

"We do not know why the EC is afraid to meet us, or why it prefers to do things behind the scenes when we have the right to give our views, " Ng added.