The Titi Tinggi state seat in Perlis is not vacant and MCA's Yip Sun Onn is still its legitimate assemblyman, said Election Commission (EC) chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof today.

Abdul Aziz said so far, the EC had not received any official letter on Yip's resignation from Perlis state assembly speaker Yazid Mat.

azlan "Although the speaker had confirmed receiving the letter, as long as the EC has not received any official letter (on the resignation), the seat is not vacant and only the EC can announce on the vacancy if there is," he told reporters.

Asked for how long could the speaker hold on to the resignation letter, Abdul Aziz said the time frame was not in the law. "It is up to the speaker to handle the matter."

According to the election law, the EC will have to call for a by-election within 60 days after a seat has been declared vacant.

Speaker confirmed quit letter

Yesterday, Yazid confirmed receiving Yip's resignation letter at 3pm and advised him to reconsider his decision.

Yip, 52, who is Padang Besar MCA division vice-chairperson, was said to be disappointed with not being reappointed state executive councillor, the post he had held for two years, when his name was not listed for the swearing-in ceremony at Istana Arau last Friday.

Instead, Indera Kayangan assemblyman Dr Por Choo Chor was appointed to the post and was sworn in before the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.

- Bernama