Ready for duty: Ramlan presenting the by-election officer appointment letter to Nik Raisnan Daud at the EC’s headquarters in Putrajaya. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Former Nenggiri assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim has acknowledged the Election Commission’s (EC) decision on the by-election dates but will still continue with his legal challenge.
Mohd Azizi said he would pursue all available legal avenues despite the recent setback in his attempt to halt the EC from proceeding with the by-election.
“I will not pressure the EC or make any remarks about the EC as they are just following what is outlined under the Federal Constitution.
“However, the court will hear the injunction on Aug 28. I will instruct my lawyers to file for an expedited hearing before the by-election.
“We will ask for a new date before polling day of the Nenggiri by-election on Aug 17.
“We have about a month or so, and if the outcome is good, things will be on my side, God-willing,” the former assemblyman said when contacted yesterday.
The EC has scheduled Aug 17 as the polling date for the Nenggiri state seat in Kelantan, with early voting set for Aug 13 and nomination day on Aug 3.
The cost for conducting the by-election is RM1.6mil, announced EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun yesterday.
There will be 20 regular polling centres with 46 polling streams and one early voting centre.
The nomination process and official vote tallying centre will be at the Dewan Perdana, Kompleks Perdana, Majlis Daerah Gua Musang.
The latest by-election comes after Kelantan state assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah declared the Nenggiri seat vacant on June 19.
On Thursday, the High Court rejected Mohd Azizi’s interim injunction application to stop the EC from conducting the by-election.
Mohd Azizi, along with five other Bersatu MPs and a Selangor state lawmaker, had over the past year defied their party and declared support for the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Mohd Azizi, who is also Gua Musang MP, ceased to be a Bersatu member for failing to respond to an official letter requiring him to pledge his loyalty to the party by May 31.
