The Dewan Rakyat today received a letter of notification from the Election Commission chairperson that the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat has been declared vacant with effect from Dec 15.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said the parliamentary seat fell vacant as the incumbent C Sivarraajh had not made his final appeal against the court ruling by the stipulated date of Dec 14.

“Sivarraajh has failed to file the latest appeal on Dec 14, pursuant to Section 36A of the Election Offences Act 1954 to the Federal Court, following the decision of the election judge on Nov 30 declaring that the 14th general election result for Cameron Highlands on May 9 was void.

“The High Court also on Dec 13 issued an order pursuant to Section 36(2)(a) of the Election Offences Act 1954 declaring that the general election for the P078 Cameron Highlands parliamentary constituency on May 9 was null and void,” the speaker said in a statement.

As such, he said the EC will hold a by-election within 60 days in Cameron Highlands.

On Nov 30, the Election Court declared BN's victory for Cameron Highlands null and void after ruling that corrupt practices were committed to induce voters in the constituency.

- Bernama