Group wants 'Dambai' to be renamed 'Limbahau'
Published on: Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: The Election Commission hearing on the proposed new boundaries saw PBS members objecting to the name "Dambai" for the new constituency of N.27 and wanting it replaced with "Limbahau"."There is a Dambai in Inanam and a name of a hotel, a Dambai in Penampang, and Tambunan, so it's confusing to people," said a spokesman.The party is eyeing the seat on the West Coast since it lost the Kuala Penyu seat to Upko after its assemblyman defected and lost in a past election.
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"From coastal Papar to Sipitang, only Upko has one state seat to represent the KDM community," said the objection filed by one Juli bin Insing @ Kulai Tony.The Election Commission accepted the objection on historical fact and that the local people know Limbahau more than Dambai.Five members of the Election Commission are hearing the objections. They are Chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim bin Abdullah, and four other panel members – Dato' Haji Md. Yusof bin Haji Mansor, Tuan Haji Sulaiman bin Haji Narawi, Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee and Datuk Haji Abdul Aziz Bin Khalidin. Datuk Maijol bin Mahap asked for the name N06 Mangaris to be changed to N06 Bongon or the return of the Langkon seat demarcation that was defunct since 1993. He also wanted the voting district of Tingkalanon be moved from N06 Mangaris to N07 Tandek.
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The Election Commission also accepted the objection filed by Kosman bin Sura to change Mangaris to Bandau as Bandau was the original name for Kota Marudu.The Election Commission accepted the objection filed by Ishar Bin Ramli to change the name N.24 Tanjung Dumpil to N.24 Tanjung Keramat on historical factor.
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Meanwhile, a group of voters from Kepayan constituency cried foul when their lawyers were barred from entering the Election Commission's closed door inquiry at a leading hotel. The eight-member group came with three lawyers to present their objection over the proposed transfer of more than 3,600 voters from Lido to Luyang."We were denied our constitutional right for legal representation," said Kenny Chua, the group's spokesman.He said the group had wanted their legal counsels led by Loretto Padua to witness the presentation of their objection but their request for permission was not granted by EC officers.He insisted that as citizens they have the right for legal representation.Chua, who is also PKR Penampang chief, said the EC heard and took note of their objection and proposal."They said they will give their reply in due time," he said.Another spokesman for the group, Micky Jangki, said they proposed to the EC to create another State constituency in Penampang instead of transferring thousands of voters from Lido to Luyang."Penampang is a big area," he said.When meeting reporters later, Padua said although the EC had stated in the invitation letter that voters are allowed to be accompanied by their lawyers only if they (lawyers) vote in the same constituency, the condition was illogical."It's illogical. Not all constituencies have lawyers to represent voters who want to make their objection. What about them? So we believe every citizen has right for counsel. If they (EC) deny us then they must give good reason. But the only reason they gave us was that they had given us a letter saying that we can't bring a lawyer and that if we still want to bring a lawyer, he or she must be a voter in that constituency," he said.The group was also accompanied by representatives from Bersih, whose Redelineation Action Research Team specialist Thomas Fann pointed out that Section 18 of the Commission of Inquiry Act 1950 states that any person is entitled to be represented by an advocate throughout an inquiry.The commission received 836 objection representations in regard to the electoral redelineation recommendations for Sabah and the peninsula after a period of one month from Sept. 15 for display and feedback on the exercise ended. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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