Penang assembly approves motion to declare 4 seats vacant

The Penang state assembly has approved a motion to declare four Perikatan Nasional-held seats vacant.

The representatives of the four seats - Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya), Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Aceh), Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam), and Zolkifly Md Lazim (Teluk Bahang) - contested under Pakatan Harapan in the 2018 general election.

Two of them, Afif and Zulkifli, were from PKR but later joined Bersatu. Khaliq and Zolkifly are from Bersatu but the party exited Harapan in 2020.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow earlier said the motion was tabled following a Federal Court ruling that Article 14A in the Penang constitution against party-hopping passed in 2012 is valid and consistent with the Federal Constitution.

The motion, which was tabled by Pinang Tunggal assemblyperson Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abd Rahman (PKR), was passed with a voice vote by a majority of the representatives in the assembly.

According to the Malay Mail, all four representatives packed up their bags and walked out of the legislative assembly without a fuss, after the motion to vacate their seats was announced by speaker Law Choo Kiang.

The portal quoted Khaliq as saying that they will "come back stronger."

According to Bernama, the motion was proposed by Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman (Harapan-Pinang Tunggal) and seconded by the State Housing, Local Government, Rural and Town Planning Committee chairperson Jagdeep Singh Deo (Harapan-Datuk Keramat).

Zakiyuddin said Article 14A of the Penang State Constitution clearly stated that a state assemblyperson must vacate his seat if he resigns, is stripped of his membership, ceases to be a politician or is chosen as a candidate by another political party.

He said that was the case for the Bertam and Teluk Bahang assemblypersons who were Bersatu members contested under the PKR ticket during the 14th general election, and also for the Sungai Acheh and Seberang Jaya representatives who were sacked from PKR.

Twelve assemblypersons including Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (Harapan-Padang Kota), Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Harapan-Pantai Jerejak), Lee Chun Kit (Harapan-Pulau Tikus), Muhammad Faiz Fadzil (Harapan-Permatang Pasir), M Satees (Harapan-Bagan Dalam), and Mohd Yusni Mat Piah (PN-Penaga) debated the motion.

Earlier today, Bersatu information chief senator Razali Idris said that the motion for the four PN representatives to vacate their seats should not apply to Bersatu assemblypersons as they did not jump parties.

According to Razali, the representatives were elected in the 2018 general election as part of Bersatu and remain in the party to date.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported state assembly speaker Law as saying that the four vacant seats will not be filled as the legislative body will be dissolved soon.

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