PAKATAN Harapan has warned its supporters not to be overconfident in its bid to retain Selangor, saying the parliamentary seats of Kapar and Shah Alam, and the state seats within, have become vulnerable due to gerrymandering.

“PH voters should not be complacent. We should not be overconfident that the coalition will definitely win the Selangor state and rule for another five years,” said the DAP candidate for Klang, Charles Santiago, in a statement today.  

“The impact of gerrymandering is wide and far-reaching. If we underestimate the impact of gerrymandering, a number of constituencies, such as Shah Alam, Kapar, and Port Klang will likely return to BN,” he said.

A total of 40,983 voters from the Shah Alam and Kapar parliamentary constituencies have been moved to Klang.

A significant portion of voters from Bukit Tinggi and Bandar Botanic, previously under the Port Klang state constituency and Klang, have been transferred to the new Sentosa seat.

This gerrymandering exercise means that many pro-BN voters have been redirected into P110.

The state constituencies of Kota Anggerik, Batu Tiga, Meru, Sementa, and Selat Klang have become marginal seats in favour of BN, which is trying to wrest the state back.

PH’s hold on affected seats has also been further eroded with multi-corner fights, with “PAS paving the way for that”, Santiago said.

He added that the Election Commission had chosen next Wednesday, a work day, as polling day.

“All these factors will prove to be a powerful weapon for BN, further allowing them to take back two parliamentary seats and five state seats in Klang alone,” he said.

Santiago said a voter turnout of 85% and above was needed to reduce the impact of gerrymandering. – May 1, 2018.