Justice Lim Chong Fong, in dismissing Zairil’s application without costs, said the exercise was a continuous process which had yet to be finalised.

“The EC will need to submit the report to the Prime Minister under the Federal Constitution. The matter will also be debated in the Parliament to accept, amend or reject the proposed exercise.

“The court is not involved unless the Executive exceeds its given powers and discretion,” Lim was quoted as saying by The Star daily.

Zairil later told reporters he would consider raising the matter again at a later stage.

“He (the judge) is saying that we are not entirely wrong in applying for judicial review but that the process has not been completed.

“So, we have to think about whether to bring this up again or do something else at a later stage,” The Star quoted him as saying.

On Feb 23,, Zairil submitted a judicial review application to the Penang High Court to establish the constitutional parameters of the EC’s duties and powers.

Zairil had argued that the EC’s redelineation exercise had not addressed the “malapportionment of constituencies” in the state.

He had also sought for a declaration that the EC’s failure to redelineate the divisions and boundaries of Bukit Bendera, Tanjung Bungah, Air Putih, Kebun Bunga and Pulau Tikus constituencies was unconstitutional.

He had, in a statement issued March 10, said it was the hope of all voters that “their constitutional right to the democratic principle of one man, one vote, one value is fulfilled” would be fulfilled.