EC meet on April 8 regarding Permatang Pauh by-election

The Election Commission ill meet on April 8 regarding the Permatang Pauh by-election, says its secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh. – April 1, 2015.The Election Commission (EC) will meet on April 8 regarding the Permatang Pauh by-election, said its secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh.

He said the meeting is in accordance with the latest status of the constituency since the Permatang Pauh incumbent, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been disqualified as a member of parliament after the Pardons Board rejected a petition for a royal pardon sought by the Opposition Leader's family over his sodomy conviction.

"Accordingly, pursuant to Article 54 (1) of the Federal Constitution the seat is now 'contingent' vacant," he said in a statement here, today.

He said the meeting, to be chaired by EC chairman Tan Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, will be held at 10am at the EC headquarters, and it will be followed by a press conference later.

On the agenda are important dates like the date of the P.44 Permatang Pauh seat vacancy, nomination day, early voting day and polling day.

"Other than that, the meeting will also discuss the electoral roll that will be used for the by-election and other preparations needed," Abdul Ghani added.

Senior Federal Counsel Amarjeet Singh today said the Pardons Board had rejected the petition for the royal pardon.

On February 24, Anwar's wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and their two children, Nurul Izzah and Nurul Nuha, submitted the petition for a royal pardon to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over the five-year jail sentence imposed on Anwar after he was found guilty of having sodomised his former personal aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Pandikar Amin said a letter was received today from the Pardons Board on its March 16 decision rejecting the opposition leader's bid for a royal pardon and in accordance with that, Anwar has been disqualified as a Member of Parliament since March 16, the date on which the petition was decided. – Bernama