Speaker confirms Port Dickson MP's resignation

Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof has confirmed receiving Danyal Balagopal Abdullah’s letter to resign as Port Dickson MP.

Ariff in a statement said following receipt of the letter that he had officially notified the Election Commission on the vacancy.

“As such, in line with Clause (1) of Article 54 of the Federal Constitution, the Election Commission must fill the vacancy within 60 days after it determines the actual date of the vacancy,” he said.

Danyal, from PKR, who won the seat in the 14th general election on May 9 announced that he was giving up the seat to pave the way for PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim in the latter’s bid to be elected as an MP.

Dubbed the 'PD move', it is to facilitate Anwar succeeding Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister.

The Election Commission later confirmed receiving notification on the vacancy for the parliamentary seat from Ariff, according to deputy chairperson Othman Mahmood.

Othman said the EC would be holding a special meeting to discuss key matters on the by-election like the issuing of the election writ, nomination and polling dates, the electoral roll to be used and preparations needed.

“The date of the special meeting will be announced later,” he said in a statement.

- Bernama