EC declares Cameron Highlands seat vacant

PETALING JAYA: The Dewan Rakyat has received official notification from the Election Commission on the vacancy of the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat.

“I have received a letter from the EC chairman informing me that in accordance with Article 54 (1) of the Federal Constitution, there has been an unexpected vacancy of the Cameron Highlands seat since Dec 15,” Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said.

“This, following the failure of Datuk C. Sivarraajh to submit his final appeal to the court on Dec 14 in accordance with Section 36A of the Election Offences Act 1954 to the Federal Court.

“The EC will have a by-election to fill the vacancy within 60 days from the date of vacancy,” he said in a statement.

The EC is holding a special meeting tomorrow to set the date for the polls.

On Nov 30, the Election Court declared Barisan Nasional’s win in the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat at the 14th General Election as null and void after finding that corrupt practices were committed.

Sivarraajh did not appeal the court’s decision.

Later on Dec 13, the High Court nullified the GE14 result for the Cameron High­lands seat under Section 36 (2) (a) of the Election Offences Act 1954.