The Election Court has fixed Aug 1 to hear and decide on preliminary objections by respondents over the Baram election petition filed by Roland Engan, of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), who lost by 194 votes in the May 5 general election.

Kota Kinabalu High Court judge Chew Soo Ho, sitting as the Election Court judge, made the decision after case management of the petition via video conferencing in Miri today.  

NONEEngan (right) lost to Barisan Nasional’s (BN) new face, Anyi Ngau, who is former Limbang district officer and Roland’s uncle, in the three-cornered fight.

He garnered 8,988 votes against Anyi’s 9,182 votes, while Independent candidate Patrick Sibat Sujang, obtained 363 votes and lost his deposit.

Present at the video conferencing were Engan’s lawyer, See Chee How, lawyer Henry Ling Kuong Meng, representing Ngau, and two senior federal counsel, Mahiran Mohd Isa and Asha Hol, representing returning officer (RO) Joseph Belayong Punan, who was named the second respondent in the petition.

The Baram election petition was the only petition filed by the opposition in Sarawak.

July 25 and 29 to hear objections in Perak

Meanwhile, the Election Court in Batu Gajah today set July 25 and 29 to hear preliminary objections by petitioners and respondents over election petitions filed for three state seats in Perak.

Election Judge Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim set July 25 to hear objections for the Manjoi seat and July 29 for the Manong and Pasir Panjang seats.

He set the dates in chambers after meeting the counsel representing the parties concerned and senior federal counsel Muhamad Anas Mahadzir, who represented the respective returning officers of the constituencies and the Election Commission.

The counsel for BN, Badrul Hishah Abdul Wahab, told reporters that the judge also set July 17 and 18 for the petitioners and respondents to file their written submission.

PAS is represented by lawyer Aminuddin Zulkifli.

Last June, PAS candidates in the 13th general election filed petitions to declare null and void the election results for the Manjoi, Manong and Pasir Panjang state seats.

In the general election, Asmuni Awi, of PAS, lost to BN’s Mohamad Ziad Mohamed Zainal Abidin with a 132-vote majority for the Manjoi seat.

In Pasir Panjang, BN’s Rashidi Ibrahim defeated Rohawati Abidin, of PAS, and Independent candidate S Vijayan with a majority of 304 votes, while Mohamad Kamil Shafie, from BN, won the Manong seat in a straight fight against PAS’ Jamil Dzulkarnain with a majority of 231 votes.

- Bernama