SHAH ALAM, Jan 27 — The Election Commission (EC) conducts redelineation by balancing voter equality with practical considerations to ensure effective representation, especially in rural areas, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
She said the EC reviews federal and state constituencies based on the Thirteenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, in line with the commission’s constitutional mandate under Article 113.
She added that while the Constitution provides for constituencies to have roughly equal voter numbers, it allows flexibility where rural areas face communication and transport challenges.
“In line with these principles, the EC, when considering redelineation proposals, considers a variety of factors. These include not only balancing the number of voters, but also administrative matters, particularly for election management and voter registration.
“The commission also considers the preservation of local community ties; voter density and growth; the geography, topology, and size of constituencies; and development potential and infrastructure.
“Additionally, it ensures the appropriate number of representatives and that the public has access to their elected representatives’ services,” she said in a written parliamentary reply.
Azalina was responding to a question from Besut MP Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh about how the “one person, one vote” principle is applied realistically without undermining effective representation, especially in rural constituencies.
Azalina also said the EC considers administrative efficiency, including the ease of voter registration and polling, and ensures constituencies do not cross state boundaries.
On October 28, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Kulasegaran Murugeson said the EC may consider reviewing the delineation of boundaries in Peninsular Malaysia after the current eight-year period ends in March.
