No letter, no vacancy: Port Klang rep
Joseph SipalanPublished: Jan 24, 2011 3:49 AM | Updated: Jan 24, 2011 8:04 AM
Port Klang state assemblyperson Badrul Hisham Abdullah will continue serving as an elected representative - until the Election Commission (EC) decides otherwise.
Port Klang state assemblyperson Badrul Hisham Abdullah will continue serving as an elected representative - until the Election Commission (EC) decides otherwise.
He does not accept the recent declaration by Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim that his seat is vacant, saying he has not been officially notified of the decision.
This morning, security personnel were said to have stopped Badrul Hisham from entering the state assembly building.
It is learnt that, following protests by him and his aides, the security officers showed them a letter, signed by Teng, stating that Badrul Hisham was not to be allowed into the state assembly.
The assemblyperson then sat in the media observation room for several minutes before proceeding to an annexe building, where he gave a brief press conference.
He contended that as an elected representative, he had every right to attend today’s sitting.
“Until today, I have not been given any letter saying I am barred from attending today’s sitting, or even a letter to declare a vacancy in my seat,” he said, adding that he had received an invitation dated Jan 11 to attend today’s sitting.
Badrul Hisham (left), who appeared distracted - and at times had to be prodded by his aides to respond to questions - said he would continue to serve as assemblyperson and will stop only if the EC agreed with Teng’s decision.
“According to the EC, I am still a state assemblyperson and I can continue with my duties, so long as there is no decision from the EC (against me).”
Court application pending
Asked about his plan to file a court application to support his position, Badrul Hisham said he has discussed the matter with his lawyers and they "have decided we will go to court".
However, he avoided giving a specific timeframe as to when the application would be filed, beyond saying it would be done “as soon as possible”.
Asked if he would file it this afternoon, he simply said: “Maybe.”
Teng (right) declared the Port Klang seat vacant last week on grounds that Badrul Hisham had been absent from sittings of the state assembly, without leave, for six months.
Badrul Hisham has denied this, saying he had attended the first day of the sitting last November and had applied for leave from the speaker to seek traditional medical treatment.
Teng has disputed his version of the events.
He does not accept the recent declaration by Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim that his seat is vacant, saying he has not been officially notified of the decision.
This morning, security personnel were said to have stopped Badrul Hisham from entering the state assembly building. It is learnt that, following protests by him and his aides, the security officers showed them a letter, signed by Teng, stating that Badrul Hisham was not to be allowed into the state assembly.
The assemblyperson then sat in the media observation room for several minutes before proceeding to an annexe building, where he gave a brief press conference.
He contended that as an elected representative, he had every right to attend today’s sitting.
“Until today, I have not been given any letter saying I am barred from attending today’s sitting, or even a letter to declare a vacancy in my seat,” he said, adding that he had received an invitation dated Jan 11 to attend today’s sitting.Badrul Hisham (left), who appeared distracted - and at times had to be prodded by his aides to respond to questions - said he would continue to serve as assemblyperson and will stop only if the EC agreed with Teng’s decision.
“According to the EC, I am still a state assemblyperson and I can continue with my duties, so long as there is no decision from the EC (against me).”
Court application pending
Asked about his plan to file a court application to support his position, Badrul Hisham said he has discussed the matter with his lawyers and they "have decided we will go to court".
However, he avoided giving a specific timeframe as to when the application would be filed, beyond saying it would be done “as soon as possible”.
Asked if he would file it this afternoon, he simply said: “Maybe.”Teng (right) declared the Port Klang seat vacant last week on grounds that Badrul Hisham had been absent from sittings of the state assembly, without leave, for six months.
Badrul Hisham has denied this, saying he had attended the first day of the sitting last November and had applied for leave from the speaker to seek traditional medical treatment.
Teng has disputed his version of the events.
View Comments0