PUTRAJAYA, 8 Sept 2008: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup is no longer a deputy minister following the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s decision to declare null and void his election as the unopposed winner of the Pensiangan parliamentary seat.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today a deputy minister must come from among members of parliament.
However, Kurup can be reappointed as a deputy minister if he was re-elected, Najib told reporters after chairing the Permata Negara Council meeting here.
Kurup, who is Parti Persatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president, won the seat unopposed on nomination day for the 12th general election after the returning officer rejected the nomination papers of Danny Anthony Andipai of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Kurup was subsequently appointed Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister.
Delivering the judgment today, Justice David Wong Dak Wah ruled, among others, that the wrongful rejection of the nomination papers had breached Andipai’s constitutional right to take part in the election.
Najib said Barisan Nasional (BN) would appeal against the decision and at the same time, prepare for a by-election. — Bernama
