All eyes on ‘Friday the 13th’
(Bernama) — Will there be another by-election after those at Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau and Batang Ai, which have been scheduled for April 7?
This is on the minds of political analysts and political party members as they await the decision by the Federal Court this Friday on an appeal by Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.
Kurup has appealed against an Election Court decision which declared his no contest victory of the Pensiangan parliamentary seat during the March 8 general election last year as null and void.
Kurup filed the appeal on Sept 17, 2008.
The Federal Court was supposed to deliver its decision on Feb 12 but reserved judgement until this Friday after hearing submissions from Senior Federal Counsel Azizah Nawawi and lawyers for Kurup and Danny Anthony Andipai of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
"I will be there personally to hear the decision. I leave it to the court to make the decision. Whatever the decision is, I'm ready.
"Even if the Federal Court upholds the decision by the Election Court, I'm ready for it as since July last year, I have made all the neccesary preparations," Kurup told Bernama here Wednesday.
Should the Federal Court uphold the Election Court decision, another by-election cannot be avoided.
Several political analysts have pointed out that if this was to happen, the scenario would be akin to a "mini national election" because it would be for the first time in Malaysian history that by-elections will be held in states in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak within a short time span.
Meanwhile, another issue still pending which may cause another by-election is the status of Bukit Lanjan state assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong.
Wong, 37, had been asked to take leave after she had offered to resign as Selangor state executive councillor and Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman following the release of semi-nude photographs of her on the Internet last month.
The police are investigating the case.
Wong has also applied for leave from attending the second term sitting of the 12th state assembly, which started yesterday.
She had sent her resignation letter to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim on Feb 17.
Her future status remains unclear and PKR party leaders when contacted, could only say that she was on leave and refused to comment further.
"She is still on leave. Don't read too much into it. It is very simple language, that she is on leave until further notice," said PKR vice president Azmin Ali when contacted.
Whether this "mini national election" will happen or not, it is remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure — the political scenario in the country is becoming more interesting.
