Rep absent without leave, so court declares Kota Siputeh state seat vacant

KUALA LUMPUR: In a landmark judgment, the High Court declared the Kota Siputeh state seat vacant after ruling that its assemblyman was no longer one for failing to attend two consecutive meetings of the state legislature without leave.

In stripping Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Abu Hassan Sarif of his assemblyman status yesterday, High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) Justice Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin also ordered the Election Commission (EC) to call for a by-election for Kota Siputeh.