No by-election for Mata Ayer state seat in Perlis

 Assembly speaker Rus’sele Eizan says the vacancy will not affect the state government’s majority.

Perlis speaker Rus’sele Eizan said the death of Mata Ayer assemblyman Wan Badariah Wan Saad will not trigger a by-election as more than three years have passed since the current state assembly first convened. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

No by-election will be held for the Mata Ayer state seat in Perlis following the death of the assemblyman, Wan Badariah Wan Saad, last Saturday, as more than three years have passed since the current state assembly first convened.

Perlis assembly speaker Rus’sele Eizan said the first meeting of the first session of the 15th assembly was held on Dec 19, 2022, meaning the three-year mark was reached on Dec 19, 2025.

He said the vacancy would not affect the state government’s majority.

“The Perlis assembly currently has 11 members, comprising five from PAS, five from Bersatu and one from Pakatan Harapan, represented by PKR. The state government remains under Perikatan Nasional.

“None of the assemblymen has withdrawn support for Perlis menteri besar Abu Bakar Hamzah. Therefore, the state administration continues to function as usual under his leadership,” Bernama quoted him as saying today.

Rus’sele said he had submitted an official notification of the vacancy to the Election Commission today.

In the 15th general election, Wan Badariah, 50, secured 4,419 votes as the PAS candidate for PN, defeating Barisan Nasional’s Siti Berenee Yahaya, who received 2,398 votes, and PH’s Amran Kamarudin, who garnered 794 votes.

She previously served as Perlis tourism, culture, arts and heritage committee chairman under former menteri besar Shukri Ramli. - FMT