June 19 Decision On Disqualification Of Pujut Assemblyman
KUCHING, June 9 (Bernama) -- The decision on DAP's Dr Ting Tiong Choon's suit against his disqualification as Pujut assemblyman will be known on June 19, a day before nomination for the Pujut by-election.
Head of Dr Ting's legal team, Chong Siew Chiang told reporters that High Court Judge Douglas Cristo Primus Sikayun fixed the date in chambers.
He said the judge set this Tuesday for all parties to submit the case facts and Thursday and Friday (June 15 and 16) for the argument of submissions by both parties.
"Time is very crucial, everything has to be decided, as far as this case is concerned, before the (Pujut by-election) nomination day," said Chong.
Dr Ting filed an originating summons at the High Court Registry here two days ago to seek a declaration that the motion by the Sarawak State Assembly on May 12 which disqualified him as assemblyman was null and void.
He named Sarawak State Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar as first defendant, Sarawak Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wong Soon Koh as second defendant, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, Sarawak government and the Election Commission as third, fourth and fifth defendants, respectively.
He is seeking a declaration that his disqualification as duly elected member of the state legislative assembly for the Pujut state constituency by the State Assembly Speaker, pursuant to the Ministerial Motion moved by the second defendant on May 12, and adopted by the state legislative assembly and the Speaker, was null and void and of no effect as it was ultra vires.
Chong said they would argue that the State Assembly had no jurisdiction to remove the position of an elected member of the state legislative assembly and that Dr Ting was not given enough time to defend himself.
The Election Commission has fixed the by-election for the Pujut state seat on July 4 and June 20 for nomination.
-- BERNAMA
