Voter moves to put a stop to Semenyih by-election

SEMENYIH POLLS

 | A voter is set to file an injunction at the Shah Alam High Court on Monday in an attempt to put a stop to the coming Semenyih by-election.

As lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz told Malaysiakini, his client is calling the validity of the current setup of the Election Commission into question.

"(The injunction will be filed) on the grounds that the EC does not legally exist according to provisions of the Federal Constitution, because it only comprises a chairperson, without six other members," he said.

The lawyer, popularly known as 'Buzze Azam', also confirmed sending out a media invitation for a press conference after the filing of the injunction.

When announcing the March 2 polls for the state seat, EC chairperson Azhar Azizan Harun maintained that the body would not be affected by the vacancy of its commissioners.

Azhar had pointed to the Eleventh Schedule, Item 33 of the Federal Constitution, which states that the powers of a body or commission shall not be affected by any vacancy in its membership.

Othman Mahmood resigned as deputy EC chairperson last year, along with five other commissioners – Md Yusop Mansor, Abdul Aziz Khalidin, Sulaiman Narawi, Leo Chong Cheong, and K Bala Singam.

All six will soon be made to face a tribunal to investigate allegations of misconduct by the EC in the run-up to and on the day of the 14th general election.

The Semenyih state seat fell vacant after the death of its Bersatu incumbent Bakhtiar Mohd Nor on Jan 11.

Polling for the by-election takes place on March 2, with early voting on Feb 26.

The two-week campaign period begins after nomination on Feb 16.

 -Mkini