PN keeps Masjid Tanah, court throws out BN's election petition

The Malacca High Court dismissed BN’s petition to nullify Perikatan Nasional’s electoral victory in the Masjid Tanah parliamentary seat during last year’s 15th general election.

Election court judge Abu Bakar Katar this morning denied the election petition by BN candidate Abdul Hakim Abdul Wahid to quash PN’s Mas Ermieyati Samsudin’s win.

When contacted, Mas Ermieyati’s (above) counsel Mohd Faizi Che Abu confirmed the ruling delivered during open-court proceedings.

The lawyer said the court found there is insufficient testimony to back the petitioner’s claim. Previously, the BN candidate alleged there was corrupt practice during the GE15 campaign period.

Faizi added that the court ordered the petitioner to pay RM50,000 in costs to Mas Ermieyati.

Hakim’s counsel Amin Othman also confirmed the ruling.

GE15 Masjid Tanah candidates on nomination day last year. From left: BN’s Abdul Hakim Abdul Wahid, PN’s Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Muda’s Mutalib Uthman and Pejuang’s Handrawirawan Abu Bakar

On Sept 25, it was reported that the election petitioner failed to call key witnesses for the trial.

On Feb 7, the High Court struck out BN’s election petition when it allowed PN’s preliminary objection.

However, on appeal, the Federal Court ordered the election petition be sent back to the High Court for a full hearing of its merits.