In a rare midnight press conference, Perak Menteri Besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin told journalists that the sultan had been briefed on the issue of possible by-elections in two recently 'vacant' state seats.

nizar jamaluddin 100 days interview 180608 09 Mohamad Nizar ( right ) had a 25-minute audience with the Perak sultan at Istana Kinta this morning but declined to speak to reporters after the meeting on what had transpired.

His decision to hastily reveal his discussion with the sultan is possibly aimed to pressure the Election Commission to agreed to the by-elections when it meets tomorrow.

The five-minute press conference was held at about 12 tonight at the MB's official residence.

It is believed that Mohamad Nizar showed the Perak sultan copies of the resignation letters from Behrang state assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Changkat Jering state assemblyperson Osman Jailu.

According to him, Sultan Azlan Shah agreed that the present government should continue to rule.

"The response of the sultan is: continue with the current government because we still have the majority."

He also denied there was discussion of possible dissolution of the state assembly to pave way for a snap poll in Perak.

"It's not true that the sultan has wanted the state government to be dissolved. Instead, he understands the electoral regulations which result in the by-elections to be called."

Earlier today, Perak assembly speaker V Sivakumar officially informed the state election commission chief of the vacancy of the two state seats.

V Sivakumar Yesterday Sivakumar ( left ) announced that the seats have become vacant after two incumbents had tendered their resignation with immediate effect.

Both Jamaluddin and Osman have however challenged the resignation letters, insisting that they had not stepped down and that they remain as state representatives.

The PKR duo have been widely speculated to be in the midst of defecting to Barisan Nasional.

This morning Sivakumar met with Perak EC chief Ahmad Adli Abdullah to officially hand in a letter, requesting by-elections for the two seats.

The by-elections, pending any legal complications arising out of the validity of the two resignation letters, must now be held within 60 days.

Letter sent to Putrajaya

Meanwhile Ahmad Adli confirmed to Bernama of receiving the letter from Sivakumar.

He added that he would be handing the letter to EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof for further action.

He also did not comment to questions if the seat vacations were valid in light of a dispute over the legality of the resignation letters. He said he would leave the matter to the EC head to decide.

"Today is a public holiday in Putrajaya (in conjunction with the Federal Territories Day). I think we can expect a decision tomorrow," he said.

kuala terengganu by election 170109 abdul aziz yusof Meanwhile, EC chairperson Abdul Aziz ( left ) said the commission would meet tomorrow to determine the status of the duo.

He said the meeting would discuss various aspects including the legal perspective since there were obvious contradictions of facts to the extent of creating confusion.

"I have not received the resignation letters mentioned because the office is closed for the holiday but I have contacted the Perak EC director who informs me that he has received the resignation letters of the two assemblypersons and also letters denying their resignation," he told Bernama .