THE Election Commission (EC) said it has no plans to redelineate electoral constituencies in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.

Its chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said the move was still under consideration.

“A redelineation proposal can only begin when there is an announcement to the Dewan Rakyat speaker and the Prime Minister ... by the EC and a notice is published as provided under section 4 of the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

“The EC has no plans for redelineation of the states of (the peninsula) and Sabah following the effective time period. As for Sarawak, the EC is considering and weighing the suitability of doing so,” Ghani said in a statement today.

“The last redelineation for (states in the peninsula) was completed in 2018, whereas Sabah’s and Sarawak’s were completed in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

“In accordance with article 113 of the Federal Constitution, the EC is responsible for the review of the electoral demarcation of the states based on the principles and procedures under the 13th Schedule, Parts I and II of the constitution,” he said.

Ghani’s statement came amid talk over the last few months of redelineation of electoral boundaries nationwide.

Deputy EC chairman Azmi Shahrom said any increase in the number of parliamentary seats in the Dewan Rakyat was only possible with an amendment to the Federal Constitution.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin earlier claimed the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional government would amend the Federal Constitution to increase the number of parliamentary seats from 222 to 300.

He said this while stumping for votes in the Pulai parliamentary by-election on September 9.

“We anticipate the redelineation (of electoral boundaries), or gerrymandering, will happen within this parliamentary term,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

“They (unity government) may want to add more seats in urban areas with a high population density.

“This has nothing to do with the racial composition, it is rather a geopolitical reality that already exists here and in other places.

“Given the current situation, (the electoral boundaries of) most urban areas will likely be redrawn, while there may not be many additions in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.” – January 1, 2024.