Federal Court to hear Sungai Udang election petition appeal on April 12

 

Dr Aleef Yusof of Bersatu (left) beat BN candidate Ali Mohamad by a 530-vote majority in a four-cornered fight in Sungai Udang, Melaka, on Nov 20 last year.

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has fixed April 12 to hear Sungai Udang assemblyman Dr Aleef Yusof’s appeal to dismiss an election petition filed by a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate who lost in the Melaka state polls.

Lawyer Rosfinah Rahmat, a member of the legal team for BN candidate Ali Mohamad, said the Federal Court registry notified the parties that the hearing will be conducted via a remote proceeding.

“The parties have also been asked to file written submissions by next week. It was also indicated that the bench may deliver its ruling after oral submissions on April 12,” she told FMT.

According to election law, the petition must be disposed of within six months. The Melaka elections were held on Nov 20.

Ali filed the petition on Dec 14 soon after the election results were gazetted.

On Dec 30, election judge Azman Abdullah dismissed all preliminary objections raised by Bersatu’s Aleef and the EC, paving the way to hear allegations of bribery by Ali, who lost by a 530-vote majority in a four-cornered fight.

The respondents want the petition to be dismissed as the procedures were not strictly followed.

Ali wants the result to be nullified as he claims that Aleef’s victory was sullied “due to there being elements of bribery”.

In his petition, Ali said deputy defence minister Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz, who is the Tanah Merah MP from Perikatan Nasional, had assisted Aleef to win the seat, which has a substantial number of army voters. - FMT