ALOR STAR: The Perlis state assembly speaker has the authority to determine if a by-election is required once a legislative term exceeds three years.
Pas Ulama chief Datuk Ahmad Yahaya said many failed to understand the speaker’s powers following the state’s political crisis.
He said under Article 50A(1)(a)(ii) of the Perlis Constitution, the speaker can declare casual vacancies for the three seats if the status of an assemblyman changes.
“Second, the speaker also has the authority to notify the need for a by-election should the majority of the house be affected, based on the proviso to Clause (5) of Article 55 of the Perlis Constitution, he said in a Facebook post.
Earlier, it was reported there would be no by-elections for the Bintong, Chuping, and Guar Sanji seats despite vacancies following the sacking of three assemblymen from Pas.
This followed Perlis Speaker Rus’sele Eizan’s decision that the seats would remain vacant until the next general election.
Rus’sele said the decision was based on the latest developments, including Pas‘ commitment to maintain the stability of the state government.
Last week, Pas sacked Chuping assemblyman Saad Seman, Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) after they retracted support for the former menteri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
