EC notified of Nenggiri vacancy, to meet on June 28 to discuss polls

The Election Commission (EC) has received notification of the vacancy of the Nenggiri state seat in Kelantan and will convene a meeting on June 28 to discuss the holding of polls.

According to a statement by EC secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak, the commission received the official notice from Kelantan state assembly speaker Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

“We received the official notification from Amar concerning the vacancy of the Nenggiri state seat after its incumbent Mohd Azizi Abu Naim lost his membership in Bersatu on June 13.

“As provided under Clause (3), Article 31A of the Constitution of the Government of Kelantan, the vacancy must be filled within 60 days from the date EC received the notification,” said Ikmalrudin.

He said that accordingly, a special meeting would be held on Friday, June 28 to discuss polling options.

“A press conference will be held immediately after the meeting,” he said.

Consequences of defecting

Azizi, who is also Gua Musang MP, was among the seven Bersatu lawmakers whose party memberships were terminated for voicing support for the Madani government.

The other representatives given the boot were Labuan MP Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, Tanjong Karang MP Zulkafperi Hanapi, Jeli MP Zahari Kechik, Kuala Kangsar MP Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid, and Selat Klang assemblyperson Abdul Rashid Asari.

Bersatu earlier amended its party constitution to stipulate that any elected representative who defected would automatically cease to be a party member.

In doing so, the defectors will also trigger the anti-hopping law per Article 49A of the Federal Constitution and their seats will be vacated.

The Registrar of Societies approved the amendment to Bersatu’s constitution in April.

Despite the move aimed at vacating the seats of the renegade representatives and triggering by-elections, some experts have voiced scepticism on whether it would work and opined that the terminated members would continue as independent representatives.

Bersatu supreme council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan even went on to claim that Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul has no choice but to announce the vacancy of six seats now that Bersatu has terminated the memberships of its rogue MPs.

He said in a Facebook post that Johari would want to ensure continuity in the implementation of rules in both parliamentary houses.

If not, the country could face a constitutional crisis, the Tasek Gelugor MP warned.

Bersatu: Dewan Rakyat speaker must announce vacancy of 6 seats

Kelantan speaker announces Nenggiri state seat vacancy

I wasn't too happy with 'anti-hopping' law, says Azhar

Azhar: Party leadership interpretation of its constitution final

Will speaker follow law or 'party' in anti-hopping case, Bersatu MP asks

No notification on status of 6 Bersatu MPs: Speaker