Sivarraajh can attend Dewan Rakyat sitting for now, rules speaker

PARLIAMENT | MIC vice-president C Sivarraajh can continue to attend the Dewan Rakyat sitting until his appeal against a court's decision to vacate his Cameron Highlands seat is disposed of at the Federal Court, ruled Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Mohd Yusof.

"Until then, the honourable Cameron Highlands (MP) is still considered a parliamentarian," Ariff told the Dewan Rakyat today.

His decision came after BN lawmakers protested his earlier ruling to bar Sivarraajh from attending the sitting on Dec 5.

Ariff said the status of the Cameron Highlands MP has to be determined by a court as the seat was being vacated via a court ruling instead of it happening suddenly.

The apex court, which will hear Sivarraajh's appeal, will make a decision on whether to uphold the Election Court's Nov 30 decision or overturn the lower court's decision, according to him.

The Federal Court has to issue a certification to the Election Commission (EC) in case it upholds the Election Court's decision for Sivarraajh to vacate the Cameron Highlands seat, he said.

Upon receiving the certification, the EC will call for a by-election, Ariff said.

On Dec 5, Ariff told Sivarraajh to leave the House pending clarification on whether the Election Court in Kuala Lumpur had issued a stay order on its declaration that the Cameron Highlands seat is vacant.

The Election Court in Kuala Lumpur had declared the Cameron Highlands seat vacant on Nov 30, saying that corrupt practices have led to Sivarraajh’s election victory over DAP’s M Manogaran.

Sivarraajh had denied bribing voters and said he would appeal against the ruling.

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