Election Court orders Form 14 for Tasek Gelugor to be unsealed
The Election Court in Penang has today granted leave for Form 14 from three state constituencies in Tasek Gelugor, Penang to be scrutinised by the court.
It is learnt this is the first time the court has allowed the form, which tabulates the number of votes of each polling station, to be scrutinised...
The Election Court in Penang has today granted leave for Form 14 from three state constituencies in Tasek Gelugor, Penang to be scrutinised by the court.
It is learnt this is the first time the court has allowed the form, which tabulates the number of votes of each polling station, to be scrutinised.
Justice Hashim Hamzah ordered that the sealed forms from the 14th general election be opened in the presence of the High Court senior assistant registrar and lawyers on Jan 2.
The three state constituencies are Permatang Berangan, Sungai Dua, and Telok Ayer Tawar.
They fall under the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary constituency.
It was previously reported that the Federal Court had ordered a full trial last month last month for the Tasek Gelugor election petition after allowing the appeal by Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya.
Marzuki, who is a Bersatu member, had lost the Tasek Gelugor seat to Umno’s Shahbudin Yahaya by 81 votes in the 14th general election. The former was eventually appointed as a senator in the Dewan Negara.
The outcome of today's proceedings was disclosed by lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali to Malaysiakini. Rafique appeared with Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla who represented Marzuki.
Rafique said there are 136 Form 14 which are sealed to be opened, and this would likely determine the exact number of voters garnered by each candidate who contested the parliamentary seat.
He added that Justice Hashim asked parties to return on Jan 14 to inform the court on their proposed move after the forms are presented to them.
Marzuki in his petition claimed there was a discrepancy in the number of votes from the polling centres that were indicated on election Form 14, and what was displayed on the screen of the tally centre.
Initially, Justice Hashim ordered the petition to be struck out last September, resulting in Marzuki's appeal at the Federal Court.
In turn, the apex court in a majority four-to-one decision ordered a retrial in a bench led by Chief Justice Richard Malanjum.
Marzuki was quoted to have said earlier this week that his electoral challenge on Tasek Gelugor would continue despite Shahbudin Yahaya leaving Umno earlier this month.
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