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Iskandar: Learn to count, redelineation doesn't benefit PAS
Published:  Sep 20, 2016 5:34 PM
Updated: 10:42 AM

PAS does not gain from the redelineation exercise, especially in Selangor, said its vice-president Iskandar Samad.

The Chempaka assemblyperson said, in fact, the redelineation process benefits Umno and those who say otherwise "don't know how to count".

"For those who can't count, we are prepared to give them mathematics classes," he said in a statement.

For example, Iskandar said, five PAS voting districts won by PAS in the Chempaka constituency were moved out of the constituency in the proposed boundary change.

They are Taman Dagang, Taman Cahaya, Pandan Mewah, Kampung Baru Ampang 3 and Pandan Indah Jalan 5, he said.

Instead, the Kampung Cheras Baru Timur from the neighbouring Teratai constituency, which was won by BN, is now in the Chempaka constituency, Iskandar said.

"As a result, PAS projected majority based on the 13th general election results is reduced by 1,829 votes. The same occurred in other seats."

PAS will also likely lose its Morib, Selat Kelang and Sijangkang state seats and Hulu Langat parliamentary seats, he said.

The Tanjung Sepat, Hulu Kelang and Sabak constituencies, will also be "in danger" with projected majorities reduced to less than 1,000, Iskandar said.

"This means the redelineation does not benefit PAS, and it is illogical to say this is a PAS-Umno conspiracy."

Redelineation is unconstitutional

Earlier, Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua said the redelineation guarantees victories for BN in at least five seats in Selangor, including those held by PAS.

Malaysiakini's analysis revealed a general trend indicating that constituencies won by opposition parties in 2013 were expanded, while constituencies marginally won by these parties shrunk in the proposed redelineation.

DAP lamented that the Election Commission has lumped opposition supporters in several "super constituencies", turning neighbouring constituencies into high risk areas.

Electoral watchdog Bersih said the redelineation is unconstitutional as the constituencies will be of unequal proportions.

For example, the new constituency of Damansara will have about 150,000 voters, and is the largest constituency, while Sabak Bernam will have about 37,000.

However, the EC denied that the redelineation was to benefit BN, while Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar said Umno, too, has problems with the proposal.

Even so, PKR's secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said he will table a Private Member's Bill to take away redelineation rights from the EC, which he claimed was impartial.

Will favour DAP in several areas

Meanwhile, Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong said the party had gathered 100 registered voters to object the redelineation exercise. 

Mah (photo) who took the opposition in Selangor to task for proposing a snap poll following the redelineation exercise, instead of being pleased with the exercise which seemed to favour DAP members, said the party too was not happy with the redelineation exercise and would register the party's objection according to procedures set by the EC.

Without revealing the number of places or names of places involved, he said the party's decision to object would be discussed at the party's meeting on Saturday after a high level BN meeting on Friday.

Mah who is also the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister said the redelineation exercise appears to favour incumbent DAP elected members.

"In Beruas, Perak, for example, Gerakan had worked hard to wrest the area from DAP but the redelineation will give DAP the advantage," he said after chairing the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry Dialogue 2016 in Putrajaya today, as reported by Bernama.

Mah said from the 45 Parliament and state seats allocated for Gerakan, DAP would have an added advantage.

EC secretary Abdul Ghani Salleh had earlier said the redelineation exercise was implemented under Clause (2) Article 113 of the Federal Constitution and amendments to Clause (2) Article 14 of Sabah State Constitution which was gazetted on Aug 18.

Under the redelineation, EC is also proposing a new seat, Damansara, which encompass the Petaling Jaya Utara seat with more than 150,000 voters.

Following the delineation exercise, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang had urged Selangor to call for a snap election.

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