By Lee Wei Lian - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak (picture) says that Umno will respect the High Court decision declaring the Kota Siputeh state seat in Kedah vacant and await the outcome of an expected appeal.
The seat was declared vacant yesterday after the court decided in favour of the state assembly Speaker that Datuk Abu Hassan Sarif was absent without leave for two consecutive state assemblies.
“We’ll respect the court’s decision. We’ll work according to the system. If we can appeal, we will appeal and take it from there. Whatever the court decides, we have to abide by it,” Najib told reporters today in a press conference at the BioMalaysia biotechnology convention here.
High Court judge Datuk Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin ruled yesterday that the Election Commission had encroached on the Speaker’s powers when it decided that Abu Hassan was still the state representative despite being told by the Speaker that the seat had been ruled vacant.
Umno lawyer Datuk Hafarizam Harun said he plans to file an appeal against the decision today.
If a by-election is held, it will be the eighth this year, of which Barisan Nasional has won only two, including the Bagan Pinang by-election last month.
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