Melaka speaker says won’t vacate Rembia seat based on rumours

 

The 28-member Melaka state assembly currently has two opposition assemblymen, excluding Rembia assemblyman Jailani Khamis. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Melaka state assembly speaker Ibrahim Durum has refused to entertain PAS’s challenge to declare the Rembia seat vacant.

Ibrahim said there was a specific process to be adhered to before a seat could be declared vacant, including a formal letter confirming Jailani Khamis’s membership in PAS.

I’ve only heard rumours. There is no evidence,

 he told FMT.

Yesterday, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan announced at a press conference in the Parliament complex that Jailani had joined the Islamic party last June.

Takiyuddin also said Jailani would not need to vacate his state seat as he was accepted into PAS in June 2023, a month before Melaka’s anti-hopping laws were enacted.

Ibrahim slammed PAS for making the announcement regarding a Melaka assemblyman in Parliament rather than in the state assembly.

‘What is this challenge about? If they want to challenge, I ask PAS to show when Jailani became a member.”

He added that Jailani had contacted him to arrange a meeting this Friday at his office.

Meanwhile, Khaidhirah Abu Zahar, deputy chairman of the Melaka investment, industry and technical and vocational education and training committee, noted that Jailani had been sitting with the government bloc in the state assembly since last year.

Jailani was suspended from Umno for six years in September last year. - FMT