The electoral watchdog urged voters who were registered before 2016 to sign up immediately as objectors to the second display of the proposed redrawn boundaries in Selangor.

Voters registered after 2015 run the risk of having their objections struck out by the EC as it is not using the new electoral roll.

Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said the objections would show the people’s protest against the continuation of an unconstitutional re-delineation.

Speaking in a press conference at the Bersih headquarters here today, she said defeating the proposal would mean that the EC would have to revert to the boundaries used in the 13th general election.

She said parliament and state seats were still subjected to malapportionment and gerrymandering despite the EC reverting to the second display of the proposed re-delineation.

“This is why we need you to sign up as objectors, volunteer as a spokesperson and help us collect signatures to endorse the letter of objection.”

A valid objection to the proposed re-delineation must be represented by a spokesperson, with one spokesperson able to represent 100 signatures (voters).

Bersih has identified locations within Selangor that will act as objection collection centres. These can be found at dart.bersih.org/pusatbantahan.

The last day to submit objections is Feb 14, after which the EC will launch inquiries to discuss the concerns stated in the letters of objection.

The final report on re-delineation will be sent to the prime minister, who will then table it in Parliament for adoption.

Penang Institute’s Wong Chin Huat said Barisan Nasional (BN) was set to regain a two-third parliamentary majority with the help of the EC.

“In 2013, a parliamentary vote for BN was 1.42 times more valuable than a vote for Pakatan Rakyat.

“Votes for BN will have greater value in 2018 because of persistent past malapportionment, persistent past gerrymandering, new gerrymandering, pre-delineation changes (backdoor changes) and manipulation in voter registration and electoral rolls.

“Coupled with multi-cornered contests, it is likely that the same percentage of vote share BN secured in 2013 (47%) will get BN 15 more seats – enough to secure the two-third majority.

“Having a two-third majority will give them a free hand to add seats and trigger another round of delineation,” he said.

However, he said voters could punish BN and bury it if they came out to vote.

“Voters can make it a disaster for BN if they come out to vote in marginal constituencies and a large number is lost to the opposition.”

The new proposed changes in electoral boundaries will affect five parliamentary constituencies instead of 18 in a previous proposal.

The affected constituencies are Ampang, Kuala Selangor, Gombak, Pandan and Tanjong Karang.

Four affected state seats are Batu Caves, which will be renamed Sungai Tua, Bangi (Sungai Ramal), Chempaka (Pandan Indah) and Teluk Datuk (Banting).