First by-election after Sungai Kandis assemblyman dies of cancer
Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei passed away from lymphatic cancer
ABY-ELECTION is looming for the Sungai Kandis state seat after its assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei passed away from lymphatic cancer yesterday.
The former political secretary to Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, when he was the Selangor menteri besar, died at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre here at 11.10am.
He was 50.
The Election Act 1958 stipulates that a by-election must be held within 60 days of the seat being declared vacant.
The Election Commission (EC) expects to receive an official notification on the vacancy in Sungai Kandis, which is one of three state seats under the Kota Raja parliamentary constituency, within this week.
EC would convene a special meeting at the commission headquarters in Putrajaya once it has receive the official notice from the Selangor State Legislative Assembly Speaker, Ng Suee Lim.
A state EC spokesman told the New Straits Times that important dates for the by-election including the nomination, early voting and polling day as well as other matters would be decided during the meeting.
“We are expecting the notice this week and will extend it to the Putrajaya EC for them to decide on the by-election,” he said.
Ng said he would submit the notice about the vacancy in the Sungai Kandis only after he has receive the death certificate for Shuhaimi.
“My duty is to confirm the vacancy in Sungai Kandis state seat. This will be done when we have received the official sijil kematian (death certificate) from the late Shuhaimi’s family, which is very soon.
“After all that, matters related to a by-election will be set by the EC,” Ng said.
During the 14th General Election on May 9, Shuhaimi won the state seat with a majority of 14,480 votes, defeating three contenders.
His deteriorating health prevented him from attending the swearing-in ceremony at the first meeting of the first term of the 14th State Legislative Assembly on June 26.