The decision on a preliminary objection by Tapah MP M Saravanan against an election petition filed by PKR candidate for the parliamentary seat in the last general election, Mohamed Azni Mohamed Ali, will be made on Sept 24 at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Judge Abu Bakar Jais fixed the date during the proceeding of the matter in his chambers in Ipoh today.

He also fixed Oct 15, 16, 19, 29, 30 and 31 for trial, if the court were to dismiss the preliminary objection.

Mohamed Azni filed the petition on June 12 to challenge the GE14 result of the Tapah parliamentary constituency.

He named Saravanan as the first respondent, while returning officer for the Tapah parliamentary constituency Muhammad Nazri Abdullah and the Election Commission are the second and third respondent, respectively.

At today’s proceeding, Saravanan was represented by lawyers Mohd Hafarizam Harun, Syed Faisal Syed Abdullah, Norhazira Abu Haiyan, Mohd Hakimi Shaari and Mohd Aidil Arsad, while lawyers Leong Wai Hong and Tan Wee Sean appeared for the returning officer and the EC.

Mohamed Azni was represented by lawyers Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali and Saiful Ambar Abdullah Ambar.

In the last general election, Saravanan won the Tapah parliamentary seat with a majority of 614 votes against Mohamed Azni, who obtained 15,472 votes and Nor Azli Musa, of PAS, with 4,616 votes. Saravanan secured 16,086 votes.

- Bernama