Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said Barisan Nasional (BN) accepts the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to declare the Kota Siputeh state seat vacant.

NONE "It's a court case. We will respect the court's decision," he told a brief press conference this morning after opening the BioMalaysia 2009 exhibition at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

However he said that BN will work within the system and seek legal recourse.

"If we can appeal, we will appeal," he said.

Asked if BN is ready to face another by-election - the 10th since the general election last year - Najib said: "Whatever the court decides, we have to abide by it."

Yesterday, the High Court ruled that the state seat in Kedah, held by Umno, is vacant on the basis of its representative’s absence from two state assembly meetings this year.

The court also said the Election Commission (EC) should call for a by-election within 60 days.

The EC and the ousted elected representative, Abu Hassan Sarif, are expected to file their appeal in the Court of Appeal today.

The High Court will hear the EC's stay application on Friday.

In a related development, both Abu Hassan and the EC filed an appeal this afternoon against the High Court decision.

Brain-gain incentives

During the press conference Najib also commented on the failure of previous brain-gain incentives which have failed to attract foreign talent, let alone see the return of Malaysian experts from abroad.

“I think we need to have more incentives, obviously the early attempts did not have enough incentives.

“Incentives must also be in the form of cutting-edge research. People find it exciting to be part and parcel of real cutting-edge research with vast potential.”

wilayah pembangunan iskandar johor selatan mega project 131106 ad Najib cited the capping of personal income tax at 15 percent as another sweetener to attract foreign expertise to the Iskandar Region in Johor, as well as into specific sectors like biotechnology.

The provision was made in the Budget 2010 proposals.

The Malaysian Biotech Corp may also look at disbursing financial grants, setting up R&D facilities as well as provide debt ventures and capital financing in order to put together further incentive packages, he added.