Mahathir's protest against electoral boundary review shows desperation - Kedah MB





ALOR SETAR, March 30 (Bernama) -- Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said today Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's protest against the review of electoral boundaries showed that the political opposition was desperate.

He said it was strange that Dr Mahathir objected to the review because it had been done also during the time he was the prime minister for 22 years up to 2003.

Dr Mahathir had joined a protest on March 28 by electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 against the review of electoral boundaries, claiming that the review favoured the Barisan Nasional in the coming 14th general election.

"He (Dr Mahathir) never complained about the review of electoral boundaries when he was the prime minister but after joining the opposition he is saying that the Election Commission had done wrong.

"His allegation that the review of electoral boundaries favours the Barisan Nasional is a desperate move to garner votes but the people have lost confidence in him," he said to reporters after handing over keys to houses provided under a special state government aid to a couple, Aniz Mohd Zain 65, and Siti Zaleha Ahmad, 55, in Kampung Lubuk Peringgi here.

The protest was staged on the day that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tabled a motion on the review of electoral boundaries in the Dewan Rakyat.

The House approved the motion by 129 votes to 80 and it has also received the royal assent.

Ahmad Bashah, who is also Kedah BN chairman, said the review of electoral boundaries did not favour any party and that it allowed for elected representatives to work hard and best serve their constituents.

-- BERNAMA