Seven voters file judicial review against EC to declare local inquiries null and void

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven voters have filed a judicial review against the Election Commission (EC) and its chairman, seeking to declare the local inquiries held by the EC for the purpose of re-delination at certain constituencies in Perak, Kedah and Johor, as null and void.
The seven, who are among more than 100 voters, had filed objections at a particular constituency want the review as their lawyers were denied the right to be present during the inquiries, held between Oct 31, 2016 and Nov 23, 2016, for the re-delineation process.
The seven are; Chua Yee Ling, 33, for Kuala Sepetang, Perak, Chai Wee Siong, 31, Bukit Batu, Johor, Hashim Yusof, 63, for Bukit Selambau, Kedah, Zamri Yusof, 51, Bakar Bata, Kedah, Muhammad Arafat, 32, Tambun, Kedah, Mohd Isa Ahmad, 59, for Semerah, Johor, Dr.Chong Fat Full, 57, Ledang, Johor, filed the application through lawyer Shahid Adli Kamarudin at the High Court registry, yesterday.
"They applied to be represented (in the local inquiries) by lawyers but were denied," said Shahid.
In the application, the applicants stated that their rights to be represented was provided for under "common law" and the Federal Constitution.
They claimed that rules, which prohibits legal representation is "ultra vires" (beyond powers) against Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950, which is applicable to the EC's local inquiries.
Due to the denial of lawyer representation in the inquiry, the applicants claimed they could not present an effective objection in the local inquiry and that contravened basic rights.
Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah Anwar told the media that Attorney General Chambers had filed an appeal against the granting of leave to judicial review filed by her and 10 others registered voters, over the proposed recommendations on re-delineations of constituencies.
On Jan 3, a High Court granted leave. The appeal is to be heard on Feb 13 at the Court of Appeal.