Election Com­mission to meet on June 28, says Ikmalrudin

PETALING JAYA: The Election Commission (EC) will meet on June 28 to discuss the sudden declaration that the Nenggiri state seat in Kelantan is vacant, says EC secretary Datuk Ikmalrudin Ishak.

“The EC has received an official notice from the Kelantan state assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah on the issue of the Nenggiri seat being suddenly declared as vacant, after the incumbent Mohd Azizi Abu Naim had his membership revoked by Bersatu on June 13,” Ikmalrudin said in a statement.

“As accorded under the Clause (3) Article 31A of the Kelantan state constitution, the vacant seat must be filled in within 60 days from the date EC receives the notice of the vacancy.

“In line with that, a special meeting will be held on June 28 to discuss the by-election,” he said.

Earlier yesterday, Mohd Amar declared that the state constituency was vacant after receiving a notice under clause (3) of Article 31A of the state constitution.

Nenggiri is one of the three state constituencies in the parliamentary constituency of Gua Musang besides Paloh and Galas. Mohd Azizi is also Gua Musang MP.

Meanwhile, Selangor Speaker Lau Weng San said he has not received any letter or notification to declare the Selat Klang state seat vacant.

The incumbent for the seat is Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, one of the seven elected Bersatu representatives, who has thrown his support behind Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Abdul Rashid and six others had their membership from Bersatu revoked on June 11.

Lau said that in the event he receives a letter from Bersatu seeking to declare the Selat Klang seat vacant, he would consider the relevant circumstances before making a decision.

“I will adhere to the related legislation to make my decision. But as of now, I won’t say much as I have yet to receive anything in regard to the matter,” he said.