EC to decide Permatang Pauh polling dates on April 8

PETALING JAYA: The nomination and polling dates for the Permatang Pauh by-election will be decided next Wednesday.

The Election Commission will meet to decide on the matter after the seat fell vacant following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decision not to grant a royal pardon to its MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is currently serving a five-year jail for sodomy.

The decision was made during a meeting of the Pardons Board on March 16.

EC secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said that the casual vacancy for the Permatang Pauh seat following the decision needed to be filled.

“The meeting on April 8 will be chaired by chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof to discuss and determine important dates pertaining to the seat, including nomination and polling dates, as well as the date on which the seat fell vacant,” he said.

Anwar’s family had filed for a royal pardon on his behalf after the Federal Court on Feb 10 found him guilty of sodomy.