YAN, 10 Nov 2009: Kedah State Assembly Speaker Datuk Dr Abdul Isa Ismail reiterated today that Datuk Abu Hassan Sarif of the Barisan Nasional was no longer a member of the Kedah state legislative assembly although the matter is pending in court.
He insisted that Abu Hassan had disqualified himself as the assemblyperson for Kota Siputeh by not attending two consecutive sittings of the assembly, in accordance with the state constitution.
On 1 Sept, the Election Commission (EC) had decided that Abu Hassan, who had won the seat in the 12th general election in March last year, was still its assemblyperson.
Isa had filed an application on 1 Oct for a judicial review, challenging the EC’s decision.
“The EC has made a decision contrary to the provision in the state constitution. Pending the court decision, Abu Hassan is no longer an assembly[person] since 17 Aug,” Isa told reporters.
Isa was asked to comment on the withdrawal of a letter of invitation sent to Abu Hassan to attend the state assembly sitting on 17 Nov.
He said the letter, signed by the secretary of the assembly, was addressed to all assemblypersons.
“After learning that a letter had been sent to him (Abu Hassan), I withdrew it,” he said.
The High Court has set 12 Nov to hear Isa’s application. — Bernama
