IPOH: The Perak state assembly has sent a vacancy notice on the Ayer Kuning seat to the Election Commission, says speaker Datuk Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid.
Mohammad Zahir said the notice was sent following the death of its assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin in accordance with Article 36 (5) of the state constitution.
"A contingency vacancy shall be filled within 60 days from the date the EC ascertains that the vacancy occurred," he said in a press conference at the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building here on Friday (Feb 28).
Ishsam, 59, collapsed during a friendly football match at Bandaraya Stadium in Georgetown, Penang and died at the Penang Hospital on Saturday (Feb 22).
In the 2022 General Election, Ishsam polled 9,088 votes and won by a 2,213 majority, defeating Amanah's Mohd Nazri Hashim, Muhammad Noor Farid of PAS, KS Bawani from PSM, and Pejuang's Maziah Salim.
Mohammad Zahir said the late Ishsam was a leader who always had the people's welfare in his heart.
"He often raised issues from his constituency.
"He was also active and committed in the state assembly and was a member of the state assembly's members' welfare committee and the special select committee on stray animals," he said.
"On behalf of the Perak legislative assembly, I would like to express my condolences to his family and pray that his soul may be blessed and placed among the faithful," he added.
Also present were state Election Commissioner Mohd Nazri Ismail and state Deputy Speaker Jenny Choy.
