May 2 fixed for 2 BN candidates’ election petition appeals

 

Petitions for 12 parliamentary seats were filed after the Election Commission gazetted the poll results of last year’s general election.

PETALING JAYA: The Federal Court will hear two election petition appeals by Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates whose suits were knocked out based on preliminary objections.

Lawyer Baharudeen Ariff said the hearings for the Masjid Tanah and Kemaman parliamentary seats will be held online on Tuesday.

“Another two appeals (Putrajaya and Gua Musang) have also been fixed to be heard on June 19,” said Baharudeen, a member of a legal team representing BN candidates who lost against Perikatan Nasional (PAS or Bersatu) candidates in the last general election (GE15).

Ads by Kiosked

“The case will be sent back for the merit of the petition to be heard by the election judge should any of the appeals be allowed,” he told FMT.

The election petition for the Segamat seat which the BN candidate lost to Pakatan Harapan (PH) has been fixed for case management on May 9.

Baharudden said BN’s challenge to unseat PAS candidates for the Marang, and Kuala Terengganu seats are still being heard in on-going trials after preliminary objections were dismissed.

Meanwhile, a senior federal counsel said appeals to the Federal Court have also been filed for the Putatan, Tenom and Tuaran parliamentary seats in Sabah. However, no hearing dates have been fixed yet.

The government lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there are no appeals filed by petitioners for the Lubok Antu (Sarawak) and Sandakan (Sabah) seats.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers were involved in election petitions filed for the five seats in Sabah and Sarawak as petitioners had included the Election Commission (EC) and returning officers as respondents. - FMT