Court dismisses review of application to stop Shafie from contesting
KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here has dismissed the judicial review application for an order from the Election Commission (EC) not to allow Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to vote, as well as to stand as a candidate in the 14th General Election (GE14).
This means the Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president can contest the Semporna parliamentary and Senallang state seats.
In delivering his decision, judge Azhahari Kamal Ramli struck out the case as it was frivolous and vexatious. He ordered the applicant to pay RM10,000 in costs to Shafie and EC, who were named as respondents.
On April 17, Semporna Umno committee member Datuk Mohd Ainal Fattah filed the judicial review application through his counsel, Marcel Jude.
EC was represented by lawyer Andi Razali Jaya, while Shafie was represented by Datuk Doughlas Lind and Chung Jing Dau.
In his application, Ainal asked for injunction to stop Shafie’s candidacy until money from the RM7.5 billion allocation, claimed to be missing when the latter was serving as rural and regional development minister, was returned.
Chung said the court had ruled that the applicant had no local standi, and that the allegation was not connected to the Election Offences Act.
Doughlas said the court dismissed the case as the applicant had failed to file an affidavit on time.