High Court to hear challenge on one-day Parliament sitting on July 30

A lawyer and a social activist are challenging the legality of the May 18 sitting of the Dewan Rakyat.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has fixed July 30 to hear a suit brought by two individuals to challenge the legality of the May 18 Parliament sitting.

Counsel T Gunaseelan, who is appearing for another lawyer R Kengadharan and social activist D Arumugam, said the date was fixed following case management today before judge Nordin Hassan.

Senior federal counsel Mohammad Sallehuddin Md Ali appeared for the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

Gunaseelan said he had served the court papers on defendants Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff on May 21

“We informed the judge the papers were served via registered post as the court rules allow for that,” he told reporters.

Nordin has also directed Muhyiddin and Ariff to file their affidavits in reply to the plaintiffs by June 22.

Kengadharan and Arumugam are allowed to file any further affidavits by July 6.

Nordin also instructed the parties to file their written submissions on July 20 before hearing the oral submission on July 30.

Sallehuddin informed the judge the AGC could not confirm whether they would be representing Muhyiddin and Ariff but had no objection on the hearing date.

On May 18, Kengadharan and Arumugam filed an originating summons and sought a declaration that the notice issued to MPs on May 13 was against the Federal Constitution and standing orders of the house.

They also said it was public knowledge that the opposition intended to pass a motion of no confidence against the prime minister, and that the one-day sitting would not fulfil the constitutional requirement for the discussion of important matters other than the royal address.

The no-confidence proposal by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was accepted by the speaker on May 8.- FMT