DAP MP: Redelineation aimed at saving Umno’s marginal Johor seats

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 ― The proposed electoral redelineation may appear as if it is benefitting the DAP in Johor, but its real aim is to boost the seats that Umno had won with a small majority, DAP lawmaker Liew Chin Tong said today.

The Kluang MP dismissed as lies claims by Barisan Nasional (BN) Chinese component parties MCA and Gerakan that the Election Commission’s (EC) redelineation exercise favoured the DAP, a predominantly Chinese opposition party, at their expense.

“The truth is that Umno is in trouble and it is worried about whether it can continue to hold on to power.

“The sole purpose of the 2016 re-delineation exercise is to help Umno win by default, with or without MCA and Gerakan, as these parties have been dependent on Umno votes to win seats,” Liew said in a statement.

The Johor DAP chairman said the redelineation exercise could bring “mild positive effects” to his party’s chances in the federal seats of Bakri, Kluang and Gelang Patah, but it would affect the DAP-held Kulai and PKR-held Batu Pahat as the electoral outcome in both parliamentary seats would be mixed. Those are the only five federal seats held by Pakatan Harapan in Johor.

“It's crucial to understand why in places like Gelang Patah and Bakri, it would appear as though the EC is doing DAP a great favour. The reason is to save Umno's marginal seats,” said Liew.

“For Gelang Patah, several polling districts that Nur Jazlan [Mohamed] (Pulai MP, adjacent seat) did poorly in 2013 are proposed to be transferred to Gelang Patah. For Bakri, a large polling district with 2,000 votes (BN polled only 20 per cent in 2013) under the Muar parliamentary seat is to be transferred to Bakri. Muar is a marginal seat that the opposition has a fair chance to capture in the next general election,” he added.

Liew said with the proposed redrawing of electoral boundaries, the DAP would lose two Johor state seats ― Perling (the proposed new name for Pengkalan Rinting) and Pekan Nanas ― besides potentially losing Johor Jaya, Tangkak and Bekok as their majority vote in those three seats would be reduced to less than 5 per cent.

“How would DAP 'benefit' from this redelineation exercise when we are at great risk of losing five out of 13 incumbent seats (40 per cent decrease) unless there is a Malay swing in our favour?” he said.

“How would DAP 'benefit' from this redelineation exercise when our allies are facing the danger of losing seats in Johor which we have a chance to form a coalition government?” Liew added, pointing out that the margin for Bukit Batu ― the only PKR state seat in Johor ― would be slashed to 3.7 per cent, while the majority for Parit Yaani ― a state seat held by Parti Amanah Negara Johor chief Haji Aminolhuda ― would be reduced to 400 votes.

Liew accused BN of trying to snatch Selangor back from Pakatan, to attempt to achieve two-thirds majority in Perak and Negri Sembilan, and to prevent the opposition from denying BN two-thirds majority in Johor.

Contributer : Malay Mail Online | All http://ift.tt/2d3jIKS

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