Court decides on Feb 7 for Masjid Tanah polls issue

MELAKA:The High Court here has postponed deciding on a preliminary objection to the election petition filed by a Barisan Nasional candidate to annul the result of the Masjid Tanah parliamentary seat.

The decision was to have been made yesterday, but the court set it aside to Feb 7.

The seat was won by Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin from Bersatu in GE15.

Judge Datuk Anselm Charles Fernandis set the date to enable the parties involved to provide additional submissions on the matter.

Lawyer Mohd Faizi Che Abu represented Mas Ermieyati, while lawyer Rosfinah Rahmat acted on behalf of the Barisan candidate for Masjid Tanah, Abdul Hakim Abdul Wahid.

Abdul Hakim filed the petition last Jan 3, alleging bribery in the form of money and banquets was used to woo voters in GE15.

Mas Ermieyati filed a preliminary objection to the petition, claiming, among others, that the petition was filed out of time as prescribed under Section 38 of the Election Offences Act 1954.

She said the petitioner (Abdul Hakim) also erred because he did not name the returning officer and the Election Commission officer in the petition.

Mas Ermieyati won the seat with a majority of 4,411 votes in a four-cornered contest against Abdul Hakim, Mutalib Uthman (Muda) and Handrawirawan Abu Bakar (Pejuang).