Ex-Nenggiri rep can challenge vacated seat decision, says Kelantan speaker

MOHD Azizi Abu Naim has the right to challenge the Kelantan assembly decision to declare his seat vacant, Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said.

Amar said neither the state government nor Bersatu could prevent the former Nenggiri assemblyman from taking legal action.

"I was informed yesterday that the former Nenggiri assemblyman will take the issue o court.

"As the state speaker, I cannot stop him from doing so. Azizi has the right to find a way to settle the problem," Amar told the New Straits Times.

He said Azizi's situation was similar to that of some Penang representatives.

"The difference is that Azizi was from Bersatu. He lost his membership recently and had ran in the general election on a PAS ticket."

The Kelantan assembly declared the Nenggiri state seat held by Mohd Azizi Abu Naim vacant on Wednesday, paving the way for a by-election. Azizi is also the Gua Musang MP.

Amar said the Nenggiri seat was deemed vacant under Article 31 of the state constitution.

“I would like to announce today that the state assembly has been notified that Bersatu N45 assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim’s membership in the party has been revoked.

“Following this, the state assembly has declared the seat vacant and will submit this notice to the state Election Commission today,” he told a press conference.

He said his office had handed over the notice on the seat vacancy to the state Election Commission soon after he made the announcement.

In response to the decision, Azizi said he would meet his lawyer to discuss a legal response to the decision.

He said he was surprised at how fast the speaker had acted. – June 20, 2024.