KUCHING, Sept 16 — Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil made no commitment on whether the electoral boundary review would be completed before the next Sarawak election, but stressed that the process had already begun.
He said the Election Commission (EC) had stated that there were several matters it needed to settle before making a further announcement on when the matter would be brought before the Cabinet.
“We (the federal government) will make every effort. The process is already in place and has begun,” he told reporters after visiting The Borneo Post photographer Chimon Upon, whose home in Kampung Tabuan Dayak was damaged by a storm on August 25.
Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.
Fahmi highlighted the commitment by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the EC to expedite the redelineation process.
Previously, Anwar said the Government had agreed to increase the proportion of parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak beyond the current ratio, in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Anwar said the decision would also involve constitutional amendments to enable greater parliamentary representation from the two states.
Meanwhile, EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said in a statement on Sept 13 that the commission would carry out the review of electoral boundaries subject to amendments to the Federal Constitution.
He added that the EC would provide further explanation once there was an official decision and developments that could be made known to the public.
At the Rise of Social Efforts (ROSE) Info Session on the Sarawak Electoral Boundary Review on September 8, the EC said the review involved several stages under the Thirteenth Schedule to the Federal Constitution before the proposed boundaries could be finalised.
The commission’s representative said the process was still at the fourth of 16 stages, which involved the public display.
The current public display of the proposed recommendations and draft electoral boundaries will run until Sept 30, during which representations opposing the proposed boundaries may be submitted. — The Borneo Post
