KOTA KINABALU: The Election Court has thrown out a petition filed by Parti Warisan's Terence Au Soon Fui over the results of the Tanjong Kapor seat for the 2025 Sabah polls.
With the result, Datuk Chong Chen Bin, who is also Sabah Assistant Finance Minister, retained the seat.
Election Court Judge Justice Amelati Parnell struck out the petition after allowing preliminary objections raised by all respondents: Chong, the returning officer for Tanjong Kapor, and the Election Commission.
"The respondents' preliminary objection is allowed," ruled Justice Amelati, a High Court judge based in Bintulu.
Justice Amelati ordered RM20,000 to be paid to Chong as first respondent and RM10,000 each for the Returning Officer and Election Commission as second and third respondents.
"I hereby determine that the first respondent, Chong Chen Bin, is duly elected to the State Legislative Assembly constituency of N4 Tanjong Kapor," she said in her ruling on Thursday (March 12).
Warisan candidate Au challenged Chong's victory in the Nov 29, 2025 election results claiming money politics took place, an offence under Section 32(a) of the Election Offences Act 1954.
Chong won the seat on a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ticket with 6,171 votes against Au's 4,737 votes in an 11-cornered contest.
