Author/Authors :
Fauzi, Rosmadi university of malaya - Pusat Kajian Demokrasi Pilihan Raya, Fakulti Sastera Sains Sosial, Malaysia , Othman, Mohammad Redzuan university of malaya - Pusat Kajian Demokrasi Pilihan Raya, Fakulti Sastera Sains Sosial, Malaysia , Ghazali, Amer Saifude university of malaya - Pusat Kajian Demokrasi Pilihan Raya, Fakulti Sastera Sains Sosial, Malaysia , Abdul Rahman, Zulkanain university of malaya - Pusat Kajian Demokrasi Pilihan Raya, Fakulti Sastera Sains Sosial, Malaysia , Abdul Halim, Muhamad Hafiz university of malaya - Pusat Kajian Demokrasi Pilihan Raya, Fakulti Sastera Sains Sosial, Malaysia
Abstract :
Recently, technology development has indirectly led to the use of geographic information system (GIS) in the electoral process, in Malaysia. Such application is capable of detecting for instance irregularities in the form of gerrymandering. Objective of the present article is to identify whether or not gerrymandering occurs in Malaysia with special reference to the state of Kedah. Using Geospatial analysis in GIS to measure constituency compactness index with reference to the effect of gerrymandering, the study indicates that gerrymandering happens in 16 constituencies in Kedah with a lower compactness index ranging from 0.1 to 0.5. This demonstrates that gerrymandering is truly present in Malaysian electoral process. The presence of gerrymandering has negative impacts on the national electoral process. Thus, the significance of gerrymandering has to be considered by the authority especially the Election Commission in realigning the electoral constituencies to guarantee more transparent and democratic elections.
Keywords :
compactness index , election , geographic information system , gerrymandering , redistricting , voters
