SHAH ALAM: Investigations into a Selangor state assemblyman who was allegedly declared bankrupt are still under way, with Speaker Lau Weng San withholding further comment until a full probe is concluded.
"The investigation will involve all parties, all constituencies and all other relevant aspects," Lau said, adding that he had yet to confirm the identity of the lawmaker involved.
He said that any potential fallout would rest with electoral authorities.
"It is up to the Election Commission to decide whether a by-election is needed if the allegations are proven true."
Lau declined to comment on when a decision would be announced, saying investigations would take time.
"We have to be sure of everything first. We cannot make any assumptions," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting at Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor on Monday (Aug 3).
Addressing questions on whether the individual could be an assemblyman absent from Monday's sitting, Lau said that lawmakers miss proceedings for various legitimate reasons, including medical leave.
He explained that under the Selangor State Constitution, an assemblyman's seat may only be declared vacant by the Speaker if the representative fails to attend assembly sittings for six consecutive months without formal notice.
An example is the case of former Batang Kali assemblyman Harumaini Omar, whose seat was declared vacant on Feb 16, 2023, after he failed to attend sittings for more than six months without permission.
