Court rejects Bersatu’s legal bid against Dewan Speaker, 4 MPs

 

(From left) Armizan Ali, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Jonathan Yasin and Matbali Musah were elected on a GRS ticket in the last general election.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has rejected Bersatu’s bid to commence legal action against Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul and four MPs in an attempt to vacate their seats.

Justice Amarjeet Singh held that the courts are barred by the Federal Constitution from reviewing matters arising in Parliament such as the decisions of the Speaker.

Johari had said in January that there was no need to vacate the Papar, Batu Sapi, Ranau and Sipitang seats, held by Armizan Ali, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Jonathan Yasin and Matbali Musah, respectively.

Bersatu had claimed that Johari’s decision not to vacate the seats of the MPs, who were formerly with the party, was “tainted with illegality”.

The four MPs were elected on a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ticket in the last general election (GE15), while Bersatu was part of GRS.

However, after the general election, GRS dropped Bersatu as a coalition member.

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