Tuaran: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, said the Election Commission (SPR) is responsible for conducting the electoral boundary review.
This is in accordance with Clause (2) of Article 113 of the Federal Constitution, as well as the principles and procedures set out in Parts I and II of the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
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Azalina said a review can only be carried out after the expiry of an eight-year period or if there is a legal amendment to the composition of the number of members in the Dewan Rakyat or State Legislative Assemblies.
She said the eight-year period for the boundary review in Sarawak ended on Aug. 21, 2023, and the Election Commission is currently in the final stages of preparing its recommendations before proceeding with the next steps as provided under the Federal Constitution.
The review also takes into account the addition of 17 Sarawak State Assembly seats that were approved by the Sarawak Assembly on July 7 and came into force on Aug. 8 last year.
For Sabah, the eight-year period for the boundary review ended on Feb. 21, last year. However, the Election Commission has yet to decide whether to begin the review process as the 17th Sabah State Election had just concluded.
For states in Peninsular Malaysia, the previous boundary review period will end on March 9, this year, and any decision on conducting a new review will be determined by the Election Commission after that date
Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Madius Tangau called for the eight-year period for reviewing parliamentary and State Legislative Assembly (DUN) boundaries to be clearly stated in the Federal Constitution to avoid any legal confusion.
