The opposition leader in the Penang state assembly Azhar Ibrahim today obtained a stay of a High Court decision requiring him to vacate the Penaga community centre.

High Court judge Datuk Rohana Yusof granted Azhar’s application for the stay in chambers in the presence of lawyers Mohd Zaharuddin Harun, who represented Azhar, and Jenine Gill, who represented Seberang Perai Utara district officer and the Penang government.

NONE Mohd Zaharuddin told reporters that Azhar ( right ) was granted the stay pending the disposal of his appeal in the Appeals Court.

On July 26, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur had dismissed Azhar’s application to quash the Penang government’s order for him to vacate the community centre.

In the application filed in December last year, Azhar, who is Penaga assemblyperson, named the Seberang Perai Utara district officer and the Penang government as respondents.

He had sought the court to declare the order issued by the Seberang Perai Utara district officer, dated Nov 8 last year, was null and void.

In the application, Azhar said the community centre, which began operation in 2006 when the state was under Barisan Nasional (BN), was specially built to provide a place for activities be carried out for the interests and benefit of residents in Penaga.

He said when DAP took over the state government, operations at the centre went on as usual until he received the letter from the district officer asking him to hand over the centre’s keys.

Azhar said he had sent a letter, dated Nov 16, 2010, to the officer to review the order, but did not receive any response.

- Bernama