Kelantan Speaker declares Nenggiri seat vacant

Official stand: Mohd Amar (centre) declaring the Nenggiri state seat vacant during a special press conference at his office at Kota Darul Naim Complex in Kota Baru. — Bernama

KOTA BARU: The Nenggiri state seat has been declared vacant, says Kelantan state assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, after its elected representative ceased to be a Bersatu member.

Bersatu had written to the Kelantan Assembly that Mohd Azizi Abu Naim was no longer a Bersatu member and because of that, the state legislature no longer considers Mohd Amar a state assemblyman.

“Therefore, I declare in accordance with Clause 1 Article 31A that there is an unexpected vacancy in the Nenggiri state seat represented by Mohd Azizi,” Mohd Amar said in a special press conference at his office at Kota Darul Naim Complex here yesterday, Bernama reported.

Mohd Azizi, who is Gua Musang MP, had earlier in the month lost his membership in Bersatu, an Opposition party, for failing to respond to an official letter requiring him to pledge his loyalty to the party by May 31.

Mohd Azizi, along with five other Bersatu MPs and a Selangor state lawmaker, had over the past year, defied their party and declared support for leaders in the unity government including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

Mohd Amar said according to Clause 4(4) Article 31A, the vacant seat must be filled within 60 days from the date EC (Election Commission) receives the vacancy notice

“In Kelantan, we are confident that we can retain victory in Gua Musang and Nenggiri while the candidate will be determined by the highest level of the party,” Mohd Amar said.

“In this context, who is contesting, where the candidate is from, is usually up to the top leadership to decide.”

The other sacked Bersatu lawmakers are Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang) and Selat Klang assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari.