The Election Commission announced that the Pujut state seat by-election will be held on July 4, after its incumbent from DAP, Dr Ting Tiong Choon, was disqualified for purportedly having dual citizenship.

Nomination day has been fixed for June 20, paving the way for a 13-day campaign period.

On May 12, the Sarawak state assembly voted 70-10 in favour of Ting's removal.

This was after the state's international trade and e-commerce Minister Wong Soon Koh (BN-Bawang Assan) moved a motion against Ting for allegedly holding an Australian citizenship.

Wong cited Article 17(1)(g) of the Sarawak Constitution, which states that any person who willingly obtains foreign citizenship or exercises the rights of a foreign citizenship would be disqualified from being a state assemblyperson.

Sarawak DAP has said that it plans to challenge Ting's disqualification in court.

Asked how this would affect the outcome of the election if the court rejected the disqualification, EC chief Hashim Abdullah said the commission would respect the court's decision.

"If the court decides to maintain (Ting as assemblyperson) then, at that time we will maintain it unless there is an appeal and so on," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

However, he said until then, the EC must execute its duties in accordance with the federal constitution, and hold a by-election within 60 days of a seat being vacated.

"If we want to wait for the court case, when would the case be heard? Then you would be asking me when (the by-election would be held)," he added.

During the Sarawak state election last year, Ting won a four-cornered fight for Pujut with a majority of 1,759 votes over BN’s Hii King Chiong, PAS' Jofri Jaraiee and independent Fong Pau Teck.

Hii had previously sought to disqualify Ting's victory in court over the same alleged dual citizenship, but the Election Court had dismissed this on technical grounds last year.