KUALA LUMPUR: MIC vice-president Datuk C. Sivarraajh will remain as the Member of Parliament (MP) of Cameron Highlands until the appeal process against the decision to nullify his victory in the parliamentary seat is finalised by the Federal Court, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said the ruling was issued because Sivarraajh had expressed his wish to appeal against the Election Court’s decision.
“As Cameron Highlands (Sivarraajh) has expressed his intention to file an appeal, the Election Court cannot declare that the seat is empty until the Federal Court comes to a decision.
“The EC will only declare that the seat is vacant when the appeal process is completed. As such, Cameron Highlands is still regarded as an MP,“ he said.
On Nov 30 the Election Court declared that Sivarraajh’s victory in the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat in the May14 general election, was null and void after ruling that corrupt practices were committed.
The corrupt practices were proven to have been committed with the knowledge and consent of Sivarraajh.
His status became a question mark after Mohamad Ariff ordered him to leave the Dewan Rakyat and to seek advice and clarification from his lawyers.
Elaborating Mohamad Ariff said as long as the EC has not been notified by the Court, the seat would not be declared as a vacant seat.
As soon as the ruling was announced Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datuk) stood up and lauded the speaker on the decision to allow Sivarraajh to attend parliamentary proceedings.
He said in this regard, the decision was a victory for the people as it was the people who had voted for the Cameron Highlands MP adding that this should serve as guide for all and not to follow one’s emotions in making decisions. — Bernama
