IPOH, July 8 – The even number of state and parliamentary seats in several states will be made an odd figure through the redelineation of electoral constituencies which will be studied by year-end.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the EC will look into its suitability before implementation.
“This is something which will be rectified by the EC in the redelineation. The proposal to make the number of seats into an odd number is not a basis for redelineation because what’s important is that it’s in accordance with the Constitution, but one of the considerations is for an even number,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after attending an appreciation dinner for election personnel who served during the 13th general election in Perak here last night, he said the EC has no legal jurisdiction to determine which party would rule in case of a tie.
On the post-mortem of the 13th general election which was carried out in Selangor, Melaka, Sabah, Perlis and Kedah, Abdul Aziz said a majority of EC personnel faced the same problem besides other weaknesses such as technical aspects.
He said several weaknesses pointed out during the post-mortem such as practical training and courses for election personnel, as well as technical problems, will be improved.
“These matters will be looked into so that there will be no more technical errors which may cause or change figures and election results…we will make improvements based on the feedback we received,” he said.
For example, he said the EC will make changes on election candidate agents during the Kuala Besut by-election in Terengganu held on July 24.
“Agents of candidates previously used passes of the same colour eventhough they may be an agent stationed at the polling room or to tally votes. They cannot be clearly identified because their passes are the same colour,” he said.
Abdul Aziz said weaknesses of the EC during the 13th general election should not be interpreted as lies.
He said this is because the electoral system allows candidate agents to be present from the day of nomination until ballots are counted and all the election processes are clear.
– BERNAMA
