“The seats would be gazetted sooner or later. If not this year, then maybe later. The question on whether the seats would be endorsed in time for the election should not arise,” said Yahya, in response to Warisan vice-president Junz Wong.
Wong had said contesting only 60 state seats would go against the amendment to the Sabah constitution that was approved on Aug 9, 2016.
The amendment to Article 14 Clause (2) of the state constitution increased the number of Sabah assembly seats from 60 to 73 members.
Yahya said Wong had no right to judge on the status of the elections.
“It is up to the relevant authorities to determine that,” he told reporters after visiting the district polling centre in Sailan, Putatan near here.
The 13 new seats would see an additional six Muslim-majority, two non-Muslim majority, four mixed and one Chinese-majority constituency.
Pintasan in the Kota Belud parliamentary constituency is among the new seats, with up to 90% Muslim voters. Other Muslim-majority seats are Tanjung Dumpil in the Putatan parliamentary constituency, Pantai Dalit (Tuaran), Sungai Manila (Libaran), Lamag (Kinabatangan) and Kukusan (Kalabakan).
The four mixed seats are in Bengkoka (Kudat), Darau (Sepanggar), Telupid (Beluran) and Mengaris (Kota Marudu).
The two seats with non-Muslim Bumiputera majority are Dambai (Papar) and Tulid (Pensiangan).
The sole new Chinese-majority seat is Segama in Lahad Datu town, under the Silam parliamentary constituency.
Sabah election void if 13 new seats not gazetted, says Warisan