The Election Court in Ipoh today retained Barisan Nasional’s victory for the Selama state seat in the 13th general election after striking out with costs the petition by PAS’ candidate Mohd Akmal Kamaruddin to annul the result.

Judge Abdul Rahman Sebli struck out the petition on grounds that Mohd Akmal failed to comply with Regulation 4(1)(b) of the Election Petition Rules 1954 which required the petitioner to state the facts and grounds for the petition.

He ordered Mohd Akmal to pay costs of RM50,000 each to Selama assemblyperson Mohamad Daud Mohd Yusoff and the Election Commission (EC), named the first and second respondent, respectively, in the petition.

Mohd Akmal was represented by a panel of three lawyers led by NP Ramachandran, while Mohamad Daud by a panel of lawyers led by Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin.

Senior federal counsel Norinna Bahadun and Hanim Abd Rahman represented the EC.

In the May 5 general election, Mohd Akmal lost to the BN candidate with a 619-vote majority.

- Bernama