KUCHING: The state BN will have to wait for instruction from the Election Commission (EC) whether there is a by-election in Pujut following the disqualification of Dr Ting Tiong Choon as a member of the State Legislative Assembly under Article 17(1)(g) of the State Constitution.
According to State BN secretary Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi, the BN machinery was, nevertheless, ready to face the by-election.
“We are waiting for instructions from the EC. Our election machinery is ready for any eventuality,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He added the BN would address the issue of candidacy when the time comes.
“We will find an amicable formula for candidacy selection. The issue of candidacy shouldn’t be a problem,” said Dr Rundi the Minister of Rural Electricity and Water Supply.
In the last state election, Dato Hii King Chiong, had to resign from UPP to become a direct BN candidate. Dr Ting won the four-cornered fight with a majority of 3,849 votes.
At the DUN yesterday, state DAP chairman and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen insisted that his party would drag the matter to court to challenge the decision of the DUN.
The EC on the other hand, will convene a meeting tomorrow (Friday 19) to decide on the next course of action as it had been officially notified by the DUN on the vacancy in Pujut.
When contacted yesterday, a prominent lawyer, George Lo said the DAP could make an application to the court but it would be to the discretion of the court whether to grant an interim injunction to prevent a by-election.
“Unless the court grants an interim injunction to refrain the EC from holding the by-election, it will be held,” Lo said.
Lo, who is also UPP secretary-general, said in the event of a by-election, the seat would be best allocated to a candidate from UPP as it has the best chance to win the seat for the BN.
“In the last state election, Pujut was allocated to a candidate from UPP, similar to other seats such as Bawang Assan, Dudong, Engkilili, Mambong and Opar. So if Pujut is allocated to UPP, we are confident to deliver it for the BN,” added Lo.
Dr Ting was disqualified as a member of the DUN following a motion tabled by Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce and UPP president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh under Standing Order 23(1)(a). The motion was read together with Standing Order 32(2), Standing Order 40(10) and Article 17(1)(g) of the State Constitution.
Wong’s ministerial motion was seconded by Assistant Minister of Transportation and UPP deputy president Datuk Dr Jerip Susil prior to Wong’s winding-up speech, and was subsequently put to a vote whereby 70 DUN members supported the motion against 10 who opposed.