KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor state assembly will submit a notice on the vacancy of the Batang Kali constituency seat today or tomorrow, said Speaker Ng Suee Lim.
Ng said the state would not back down from its decision in declaring the seat as vacant after its assemblyman, Harumaini Omar, from Parti Pejuang Tanah Air failed to attend the assembly sittings for over six months.
He said this was despite criticism of the move from Harumaini who threatened to take legal action against the state if the decision was not rescinded.
"What I have announced last week (on the seat vacancy declaration) stands. Our final decision on this matter stays, regardless of what Harumaini's next course of action.
"It is his right if he wants to sue me or the state government, or whatever he wants to do.
"I have done my due diligence as Speaker and it is in my power to declare the seat vacant as per Article LXIX of the Constitution of the Selangor Government 1959.
"I will send a vacancy notice to EC soon and it is up to them to declare the Batang Kali seat vacant," Ng told the New Straits Times today.
Ng said the declaration would not trigger a by-election in Batang Kali as the state legislative assembly was into the end of its final term.
"I do not think there is a need for one (by-election). There are only a few months left to go.
"We will follow the Federal Constitution where after two years (of a term), a by-election is not required. It is up to the EC," he said.
Ng declared the Batang Kali seat vacant effective Jan 28.
Harumaini, who won the seat in the 14th General Election in 2018, has lost his eligibility as an assemblyman.
This came after Harumaini failed to attend any state sittings since July 28 last year and did not provide any explanation for his absence.
Harumaini was last present at the state assembly on July 27 and the six month period was calculated from the next day.
Ng said the attendance book showed Harumaini had been absent from Nov 23 to Dec 6 sitting where the 2023 Budget was tabled by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Harumaini will not have a chance to appeal and cannot attend the next sitting from March 13.
Bernama reported Harumaini as saying he admitted to Ng's deputy, Hasnul Baharuddin, that he failed to provide a letter to the assembly of the Speaker explaining the reasons behind his absence.
Harumaini attributed his absence at the state assembly sittings to his wife's health issues and other family matters.
He also reasoned that he had flu and cough and was in a dilemma whether to attend the November sitting as he was afraid of infecting others.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
from New Straits Times https://ift.tt/sK08Cpf
0 Comments