The Penang legislative assembly affirmed the authenticity of Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin's resignation letter as Penanti state assemblyperson, dismissing any doubts raised by the media on its validity.

mohammad fairus penang deputy cm deny resign 160708 01 Speaking at a press conference in his office today, Speaker Abdul Halim Hussain revealed that the former deputy chief minister had even enclosed a statutory declaration to substantiate his quit notice, which was effective yesterday.

A startling disclosure was that Mohammad Fairus' resignation letter and statutory declaration were both dated March 19, the same date with his resignation letters to quit as DCM 1 and state executive councillor which were submitted to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on March 21.

It confirmed prevailing rumours that Mohammad Fairus had quit all of his elected and appointed positions simultaneously.

"The contents of both his resignation letter and statutory declaration are the same. As far as the House is concerned, both the letter and statutory declaration are valid.

"No one should question the authenticity of the resignation any longer," said the speaker.

"Let's put the subject to rest and look forward for the by-election," added Abdul Halim who received both faxed and original copies of the resignation letter and statutory declaration yesterday.

The speaker has already submitted the letter and statutory declaration to the state election commission office this morning.

A by-election shall be held within the next 60 days, which would see PKR fielding a candidate also as a nominee to fill up the DCM 1 and exco positions vacated by Mohammad Fairus.

According to Bernama , the Election Commission will meet next Wednesday to determine the status of the Penanti seat.

EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof told Bernama that an announcement will be made on April 24 regarding the date for the by-election if a vacancy occurred.

He confirmed that the EC has received received a notice of the seat's vacancy from the Penang state assembly speaker today.

'Supremacy of one man'

Meanwhile, PKR's move to force the by-election drew flak from Pakatan's political foe Gerakan.

Penang Gerakan secretary Ong Thean Lye condemned the PKR leadership for being disrespectful to the chief minister by forcing the by-election without the consent and knowledge of Lim.

lim guan eng pc 270209 In a statement released today, he said Lim should have been informed about the resignation of Mohamad Fairus as Penanti assemblyperson.

He pointed out that as the state chief executive officer, Lim had the prerogative over the appointment and replacement of the DCM.

"But it seems Lim has lost his power to PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim. It confirms fears that Pakatan is not a coalition of power-sharing but a supremacy of one man," he said.

Kedah Gerakan leader Tan Keng Liang called on the Election Commission to take appropriate steps to amend the existing election laws to penalise assemblypersons who resign without valid reasons.

He pointed out that the series of resignations that forced unnecessary by-elections were a waste of taxpayers' money and time.

"The reasons given by Mohammad Fairus for his resignation that he wanted to further his studies and to spend more time with his family, were totally unacceptable.

"By-elections shall be allowed only when there are death, illness or other conditions rendering the assemblyperson unfit to discharge his or her duties," he stressed.