KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 – The Election Commission (EC) will seek the Attorney-General’s advice on the ruling by the Kuala Lumpur High Court here today in declaring vacant the Kota Siputeh seat in Kedah.Deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the EC would seek the AG’s advice on the course of action to take.
“This issue has become an academic issue. So, it is better for EC to bring the matter to the AG before making any decision,” he told Bernama.
Justice Datuk Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin ruled that the seat was vacated after incumbent assemblyman Datuk Abu Hassan Sarif (photo) absented from two state assembly meetings this year.
In her decision, Justice Alizatul held that the Election Commission (EC) had acted irrationally and its decision that Abu Hassan was still the assemblyman for Kota Siputeh and the state seat was not vacant, ought to be quashed.
In ALOR STAR, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said the decision by the High Court proved that the action taken by the state government was within the law.
He said State Assembly Speaker Datuk Dr Abdul Isa Ismail had made the right decision in declaring Datuk Abu Hasan Sarif as having lost his eligibility as an assemblyman for not attending the state assembly meetings.
“We act according to the law. The High Court’s decision should be taken as a lesson by all assemblymen that they have a responsibility, and given the mandate by the people, to attend the state assembly meetings,” he told Bernama.
Meanwhile, Kedah Umno deputy liaison chairman Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said Abu Hassan would not attend the state assembly budget sitting to be held for three days from tomorrow.
“We accept the court decision with an open heart and will patiently wait for the decision on the appeal on Nov 20,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
– Bernama
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