Former Pujut assemblyman welcomed at airport by supporters (VIDEO)

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MIRI: Over 100 Democratic Action Party (DAP) members and supporters gathered at the Miri Airport Arrival Hall today to welcome recently ousted Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon upon his return from Kuala Lumpur.

When met, Ting thanked his supporters for welcoming him back in a succinct speech, adding that he would speak more in a press conference tomorrow.

“Thank you Mirians, thank you Pujut voters and DAP supporters for giving me your undivided support for these two-and-a-half years as state assemblyman. I will give my feedback during my press conference tomorrow,” Dr Ting told members of the press.

Among those present to welcome him were Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sibuti Women chief Zulhaidah Suboh and DAP Long Lama chairman Marcus Hugo.

Dr Ting (center) poses for a photo with DAP members and his supporters at Miri Airport. – Photo by Mohamad Abdullah

Dr Ting was disqualified as Pujut assemblyman following the Federal Court’s decision in Putrajaya on Tuesday over the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly’s action against him due to his past dual citizenship.

The Federal Court found that the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) had the power to disqualify Ting as a member for having dual citizenship despite him renouncing it before contesting in the last state election.

The lower court had ruled that the DUN has no power to disqualify its members.

Apart from the DUN, the other appellants in the appeal case were former Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, the State government and the Election Commission.

The Federal court panel of judges led by Chief Justice Tan Sri Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat also ruled that DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar had not breached natural justice when allowing Dr Ting’s disqualification as a member of the august House.

The other judges were Court of Appeal president Datuk Rohana Yusuf; Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri David Wong Dak Wah and Federal Court judges Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli; Datuk Mohd Zawawi Salleh; Datuk Nallini Pathmanathan; Datuk Ong Lam Kiat; Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof and Datuk Hasnah Mohammed Hashim.

Counsels Tan Sri Cecil Abraham and Shankar Ram represented Asfia, Jonathan Tay represented Wong and the State-Attorney general Datuk Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid represented the State government. The Election Commission was represented by Shamsul Bahrain.

Dr Ting was represented by a legal team led by Chong Siew Chiang.