There were 129 MPs who voted in support of the motion, and 80 who opposed it.

Earlier, seven MPs from each side were allocated 10 minutes each to debate the motion, which has drawn strong protests from the opposition and electoral reforms coalition Bersih 2.0.

As Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia announced the result, opposition MPs carried placards with the words “Bangkit Rakyat, Hentikan Penipuan” (People Arise, Stop the Cheating).

Earlier, Prime Minister Najib Razak tabled the motion as hundreds gathered outside the Parliament building.

Several representatives from Bersih later handed over a memorandum urging Pandikar to stop the tabling of the motion, citing pending legal suits as well as procedural lapses on the part of the EC.

Some of the protesters were involved in scuffles with police who formed a barricade around the complex.

In tabling the bill, Najib said the EC’s recommendations did not propose any change to the number of parliamentary and state constituencies but only suggested renaming 12 parliamentary and 28 state seats.

There are a total of 222 parliamentary seats and 587 state seats.

The last time Parliament approved a revision to the electoral boundaries was in 2003. According to the Federal Constitution, a review is necessary at least once every eight years.