KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Election Commission (EC) has submitted the proposed delineation for Sabah to its headquarters, director Datuk Md Idrus Ismail said.
He however did not disclose the number of additional seats requested for Sabah in the proposal.
“We have submitted our proposal to the headquarters. The recommendations will be put on display at a later date for the public to scrutinize and give their feedback,” Md Idrus said this when asked if the state Election Commission would also be conducting a delineation review as is being done in Sarawak.
He said they would have one month from the date the recommendations were displayed to do so.
“We seek all quarters to be patient and wait for the announcement to be made,” he said.
Currently Sabah has 60 state seats and 25 parliamentary seats.
It is believed that under the re-delineation exercise, there will be seven new state constituencies in Sabah, namely Darau in Sepanggar, Mengkabong in Tuaran, Limbahau in Papar, Pandasan in Kota Belud, Sepagaya in Lahad Datu, Langkon in Kota Marudu and Bukit Garam in Kinabatangan.
Meanwhile, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) secretary-general Datuk Johnny Mositun said it was high time for the re-delineation of the state’s electoral boundary in accordance with current needs and population in Sabah.
“The last re-delineation exercise was conducted 10 years ago, so it is time for a review,” he said when asked to comment on United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation’s (Upko) call on the EC to increase the state constituencies for Sabah, similar to the plans for Sarawak.
Johnny said PBS had also made the same request as additional elected representatives would mean that the people would have better service.
He also said the EC had, before this, said the delineation review would be done and was supposed to make the announcement in December last year.
“Maybe the announcement is delayed because of the floods in the state. It is my hope that the announcement will be made in the next few months,” the deputy State Assembly Speaker said.
Meanwhile when asked to comment on Pakatan Rakyat Sabah’s call on the EC not to conduct any redelineation exercise in the state until the electoral roll was cleared of all phantom and dubious voters, Johnny said the matter must not be delayed anymore.
“It is time and we do not want to wait anymore,” he said.
The state’s opposition chief, Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, in making the call said: “Don’t carry out the delineation exercise until the electoral roll is cleared of these people. They obtained their Malaysian citizenship illegally and thus they do not have the right to vote.”
It is believed that under the re-delineation exercise, there will be seven new state constituencies in Sabah, namely Darau in Sepanggar, Mengkabong in Tuaran, Limbahau in Papar, Pandasan in Kota Belud, Sepagaya in Lahad Datu, Langkon in Kota Marudu and Bukit Garam in Kinabatangan.
On Monday, the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) has proposed to the EC to increase the state constituencies for Sabah, similar to EC’s plans for Sarawak.
Its information chief, Albert Bingkasan, said the party’s proposal was based on facts and research, which had already been submitted to the EC.
The EC has proposed to add 11 more state seats for Sarawak, bringing the total to 82, namely N13 Batu Kitang; N17 Stakan; N18 Serembu; N23 Triboh; N26 Gedong; N40 Kabong; N57 Telian; N63 Selirik; N66 Murum; N70 Samalaju and N78 Long Lama.
Besides the new seats, the EC has also recommended a change of name for one parliamentary and four state constituencies.
It has proposed that the parliamentary constituency of P198 Mambong be renamed P198 Puncak Borneo and the state constituencies of N19 Bengoh; N34 Batang Air; N41 Belawai and N68 Kidurong be renamed N19 Mambong; N34 Batang Ai; N41 Kuala Rajang and N68 Tanjong Batu, respectively.
EC secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh had said the recommendations were in accordance with an amendment to the state constitution enforced on Dec 5, 2014.
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