The DAP wants state polls to be held in Selangor before the Election Commission (EC) gains approval for its recent controversial proposed redelineation exercise.
Selangor DAP chairman Tony Pua said the party “unanimously” agreed to early elections in the state during an emergency meeting yesterday, but will wait for its Pakatan Harapan allies PKR and Amanah to reach a consensus.
“In our meeting yesterday, it was unanimously resolved. It will be better for Pakatan to hold an election before the redelineation completed.
“This was our decision but the final decision will be left to the Pakatan Harapan top leadership,” he told a press conference at the party’s headquarters here.
Pua reasoned that the decision was made as the recent redelineation exercise affected Selangor the worst compared to other states, and a snap polls would be one way for Pakatan to retain the state.
“The impact on Selangor is huge and hence the consideration for Selangor is higher than anywhere else,” he said.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali reportedly dismissed Monday DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang’s suggestion to hold snap elections as he could not betray the mandate Selangor voters gave to Pakatan Rakyat in the 13th general election.
Pua however said that the question of “betraying the mandate” doesn't arise as the proposed elections might not happen tomorrow but sometime next year, which would be almost the end of the current mandate.
“I just want to point out that having an election before the redelineation is completed is not having an election tomorrow or next month. The redelineation exercise will take around 8 months, perhaps even a year, and by then we are nearly full term anyway.
“The question of mandate does not arise and I believe that voters out there that has given the mandate for this government would want to give a mandate to a government that is elected based on fair electoral boundaries and not manipulated ones,” he stressed, adding that even Azmin had said the decision would be up to Pakatan to make.
The final decision to call for a state election, however, would also be the prerogative of the Selangor Sultan under the state constitution and they would consult him on the matter, Pua explained.
“Selangor's constitution, however, is a little bit unique. In the sense that the decision to call for elections is also subjected to the endorsement and approval by Tuanku.
“Of course that's something for Tuanku to decide using his discretion,” he said.
The DAP national publicity secretary also said to prepare for the elections, they need to engage with newly formed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia but dismissed any negotiations with former ally, PAS.
“There is no seat negotiations between PAS and DAP at all. If there is a three corner fight. Let it be,” Pua curtly said.
Although Pakatan Rakyat has broken up and a new federal opposition pact formed among PKR, DAP and Amanah, PAS remains in the Selangor state government.
The EC in an 18-page notice had reportedly proposed to alter the electoral boundaries of several parliamentary and state constituencies in all states bar Perlis, Labuan and Putrajaya.
The proposed amendments could see 12 parliamentary and 34 state constituencies in the peninsula undergo a name change while it also listed 13 proposed new state constituencies for Sabah, increasing the number of the state seats to 73.
But Pakatan Harapan leaders alleged the some of the proposed redelineation exercise would carve out opposition-held federal and state seats to favour Barisan Nasional, especially in Johor and Selangor.
Among the constituencies that would be affected by the proposed changes are Pagoh in Johor and Lembah Pantai. The former is held by sacked Umno leader Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the latter PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Source -Malay Mail Online-
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