BAU: Speculation over a proposal to change the name of the Tasik Biru State Legislative Assembly (DUN) constituency to Singai cannot be decided by political parties as the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of Malaysia (SPR).
In stating this, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy President, Datuk Henry Harry Jinep, said any proposal related to the naming of electoral constituencies is usually made during the redelineation process conducted by the SPR.
He said political parties do not have the authority to determine such changes.
“That is part of the redelineation process and it is under the SPR. As political parties, we do not have the final say in this matter,” he said.
He said this when met by reporters after officiating the PDP Triennial General Meeting (TGM) of Tasik Biru Division at Dewan Suarah Bau here today.
Elaborating further, the Tasik Biru assemblyman said any change in the name of a constituency usually has certain justifications based on considerations made during the redelineation process.
Henry said that changes to the names of electoral constituencies are not something new as it has happened before.
“For example, in the Bau area which previously involved Bengoh before becoming Serembu, and part of it later formed the Puncak Borneo constituency. Such matters do occur from time to time, and we leave it to the SPR to determine,” he added.
He explained that PDP is also taking the approach of waiting for the official decision regarding the proposal to increase the number of DUN seats before taking any position on seat allocations ahead of the upcoming Sarawak State Election (PRN).
“The process related to the addition of 17 new DUN seats is still awaiting Parliament’s approval. So for now we are not saying anything yet. Let’s be patient first,” he added.
Commenting on the possibility of PDP giving way to other parties to contest certain seats such as in Pakan, he said the matter must first be discussed at the party level before any decision is made.
According to him, seat distribution issues cannot be decided individually as they involve party decisions as well as consensus within the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition.
“I cannot make the decision on my own. This matter needs to be brought to the party and discussed in the party’s Supreme Council.
“Moreover, if PDP is selected, the final decision still has to be made through GPS consensus and discussions among party leaders,” he said.
