KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul (pic) has formally notified the Election Commission (EC) of the vacancies in the Pandan and Setiawangsa parliamentary seats following the resignations of their respective MPs.
Speaking at the start of the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Monday (June 22), Johari said Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad had submitted letters relinquishing their positions on May 18.
"As everyone is aware, the Honourable Members for Pandan and Setiawangsa submitted letters to relinquish their membership in the Dewan Rakyat to me on May 18.
"I have informed the EC of the vacancies in both parliamentary seats in accordance with Article 54(1) of the Federal Constitution," he told the House.
The vacancies arose after Rafizi and Nik Nazmi announced on May 17 that they would leave PKR and join Bersama.
At the time, the duo insisted their move did not constitute party-hopping under Malaysia’s anti-party hopping law, as they had voluntarily vacated their parliamentary seats before joining Bersama.
Rafizi had said the sequence of events was designed to avoid triggering provisions under the anti-party hopping law as well as any legal or financial consequences linked to party defections.
Under Article 54(1) of the Federal Constitution, a by-election must be held within 60 days of the EC being notified that a parliamentary seat has fallen vacant.
