KOTA BAHARU: The Election Court here yesterday has set 15 days in February and March for trial of the election petition for the Machang parliamentary seat won by Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 13th general election.
Election judge Datuk Zamani Abdul Rahim, who made the decision in chambers, fixed trial from Feb 23 to 27, March 9 to 13 and March 23 to 27 for trial.
Zamani also decided to make a decision on the earlier appeal filed by former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate for the parliamentary constituency, Wan Zawawi Wan Ismail, at the end of trial.
It will allow him to hear the full trial before making a decision on the appeal.
Meanwhile, Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, who is representing BN, said they will call on 200 witnesses throughout trial while the Election Commission will call on 510 witnesses.
Mohd Hafarizam was also shocked by the judge’s decision to decide on the initial appeal at the end of the trial.
“I am unsure where or on what aspect the court wants to make a decision at the end of the trial, whether this will involve legal issues or clarification of facts.
“If it’s done at the end of the trial there will be a combination between legal issues and clarification. How can it be separated later,” he said.
He said it is different from the decision for the Lubok Merbau constituency election petition today, whereby the Election Court has rejected the petition filed by a voter to nullify the general election results for the area.
PKR’s lawyer, Hisham Fauzi, said he will call on at least 25 witnesses during the trial.
In the 13th general election, Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, who is also Machang Umno division chief, defeated PKR candidate Wan Zawawi Wan Ismail with a 805 vote majority.
Ahmad Jazlan is the first respondent in the petition, while the Machang Election Returning Officer is the second respondent and the Election Commission the third respondent.
Azizan Md Arshad represents the second and third respondent. — Bernama