Some truth from Bernama

EC Decides Changkat Jering And Behrang Not Vacant



PUTRAJAYA, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- The Election Commission today decided that the Perak State Legislative Assembly seats for Changkat Jering (N14) and Behrang (N58) are not vacant as they are still held by the incumbent Assemblymen.

Its Chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf, said this was because the EC found that there were doubts over the letters of resignation from Mohd Osman Jailu as the Assemblyman for Changkat Jering and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi as the Assemblyman for Behrang.

"The EC had looked into the matter thoroughly from the various legal aspects and hereby inform that there are doubts over the resignation letters by the incumbent Assemblymen for the two seats.

"It is also in view of the fact that both Assemblymen have consciously confirmed that both letters are not authorised," he told reporters here.

As such, he said, the EC could not exercise the power under Article 36 (5) of the Perak State Constitution in determining that there were casual vacancies.

Earlier at 11am, Abdul Aziz chaired a special meeting of the commission which lasted almost two hours to discuss the issue following the announcement by Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar in a statement that Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman had submitted their letters of resignation as State Assemblymen for Behrang and Changkat Jering respectively on Sunday.

On the other hand, Jamaluddin, in a two-page statement which was distrbuted to the media yesterday denied that he had sent the letter to Sivakumar vacating the seat as had been reported.

Jamaluddin said the report was baseless and he also denied that he had absconded but was on medical leave since last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Mohd Osman lodged a police report at the Shah Alam Police Headquarters through a representative on the issue concerning the seat vacancy.

At the press conference here, Abdul Aziz had confirmed receiving two letters, one from Sivakumar and the other from Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman yesterday.