Voter files suit to stop Semenyih by-election, says one-man EC unconstitutional

PETALING JAYA: A registered voter has filed, via e-filing on Friday (Feb 8 ) night, for an injunction to halt the Semenyih by-election, challenging the validity of the Election Commission as it is currently run by only the chairman .

Aside from the chairman, the remaining six posts in the commission were still vacant, rendering the Election Commission non-existent in accordance with the Federal Constitution, the voter's lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz said.

A press conference will be held on Monday (Feb 11) to announce the details of the suit.

Mohd Khairul said a one-man EC was unconstitutional.

"The EC is legally non-existent in accordance with the Federal Constitution as it is only represented by a chairman without the six other members," he said.

A check on the EC website showed only the chairman’s post was filled, while the remaining six posts were still vacant.

Azhar Azizan Harun, popularly known as Art Harun, was appointed the chairman after Pakatan Harapan succeeded in wresting control of Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional last year.

Six EC members resigned effective Jan 1, 2019, and the posts remain vacant.