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Published: Monday March 11, 2013 MYT 11:28:00 AM
Updated: Monday March 11, 2013 MYT 12:01:21 PM

Penang petitions apex court over local govt polls

By NURBAITI HAMDAN


PUTRAJAYA: The Penang state government filed a petition at the Federal Court registry here Monday, seeking valid authorisation to conduct local government elections within the state.

The state government, together with P. Ramakrishnan as the second petitioner, named the Malaysian Government and the Elections Commission as respondents.

(Ramakrishnan is a former president of non-governmental organisation Aliran.)

They filed the petition as well as a leave application to initiate court proceedings on the matter through the firm Messrs Tommy Thomas.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and lawyer Tommy Thomas, who represented the state, were present during filing.

It was reported earlier that Lim said local government elections in the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) should be restored as it was a state matter.

"The state legislature has jurisdiction to hold local government elections under the Ninth Schedule and Article 113(4) of the Federal Constitution.

"The state has informed the EC that the Local Government Elections (Penang Island and Province Wellesley) Enactment 2012 would come into force in Penang by Jan 31 this year.

"However, the state failed to obtain any commitment from the EC to conduct the elections for MPPP and MPSP in accordance with the enactment," he said.

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Penang going to court to restore local govt polls

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