KUALA LUMPUR: The re-delineation exercise of the electoral boundaries in Sarawak was done with the consent of the legislative assembly which had approved the amendments on its constitution.
Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim when met at the lobby said the Election Commission (EC) only carried out the exercise after amendment on the state constitution was gazetted last year.
"I was only stating (in the earlier Dewan Rakyat meeting) on the procedures and steps taken by both state assembly and EC on the delineation exercise," he said, adding that the court's decision must be respected.
High Court had recently ordered the commission to republish the public notice (including in newspapers) in detail and that it had breached the requirements stated in the Federal Constitution.
The state legislative assembly had in November passed the re-delineation exercise for the assembly seats increased to 82 to 71 and passed the amendment on the clause 2 of Article 14 of its constitution that was gazetted in December last year before EC carried out the exercise including the issuance of public notice.
Shahidan had earlier told the house that the initial draft report on the number of voters, development and population is being prepared as part of EC's administrative works on the delineation process in Sabah and Peninsula.
"EC is currently carrying out the works as early preparations for the exercise. The report is prepared and later presented to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker and the Prime Minister. EC has to carry out the exercise within two years after the state assemblies decide to allow the delineation," he said in responding to a question by Charles Anthony Santiago (DAP-Klang) whether EC has started the process of delineation of electoral boundaries for Parliamentary and the State Legislative Assembly seats for Peninsula and Sabah.