Kota Seputeh rep keeps state seat
(The Star) PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Abu Hassan Sarif remains the assemblyman for Kota Seputeh state seat in Kedah despite failing to show up for two sessions of the state assembly sitting.
The decision was made by the Election Commission, after convening a special meeting yesterday to deliberate on the matter.
In his statement issued after chairing the four-hour meeting, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof said it has been decided that the status of the seat remained unchanged as per the 12th general election results.
Kedah Speaker Datuk Dr Abdul Isa Ismail had on Aug 18 written to the commission, informing it of Abu Hassan’s failure to attend the sittings on April 19 and Aug 9. On the other hand, Abu Hassan had submitted medical chits for his absence.
Under Section 51 of the Kedah state constitution, an assemblyman who fails to attend assembly sittings twice in a row would automatically lose his or her membership and would have to vacate the seat.
Abdul Aziz said it was concluded that the two sittings which Abu Hassan was alleged to have failed to attend were not two consecutive meetings in a single session but was in fact two separate sessions held three months and 20 days apart.
The decision, he said, was based on the state government gazette stating that the Sultan of Kedah had declared open the assembly’s fifth meeting of the first session on April 19 and another which stated that the first meeting of the second session began on Aug 9, and should not be judged as consecutive meetings.
He said the medical chit submitted by Abu Hassan was accepted by the EC as a valid reason for his absence in the Aug 9 meeting and the delay in him submitting the chit did not make it invalid.
“The EC is also of the opinion that before Section 51 of the state constitution be invoked, the matter should have been referred to the assembly’s Rights and Freedom Committee first.
“After deliberating all this, the commission has decided that there is no vacancy for the Kota Seputeh state seat,” he said.
In an immediate reaction, Abu Hassan has pledged to turn over a new leaf and start attending future sittings.
Speaking to reporters at his operation centre in Kodiang, Jitra, he said he was grateful at being given a second chance to fulfill his obligations.
Dr Abdul Isa of PAS when contacted said the legislative assembly would respect the EC’s decision.
“However, if there is space for us to take action, we would not hesitate to do so,” he added.
