April 9 hearing on summons over 13 new state seats

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred M Bumburing urged Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman to deal with the non-inclusion of 13 new state seats in the 14th general election (GE14).

Bumburing confirmed the originating summons had been served to all four defendants, the Sabah Chief Minister, Sabah government, Sabah Legislative Assembly and the Election Commission (EC), and a court urgency certificate has been obtained to pave the way for a hearing on April 9 at 3pm.

“The EC now must wait for the court decision on Monday, April 9, 2018 before the EC decides to issue a Writ of Election,” he said.

On April 5, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) filed an originating summons that could halt the 14th general election (GE14) for state seats and get the government to sort out the new Sabah seats issue.

The civil suit, filed by five plaintiffs that was led by Bumburing at the Sabah High Court, sought to revert the number of Sabah Legislative Assembly seats to 60, or the tabling and passing of the Election Commission (EC) Report for the new total of 73 at Dewan before the running of GE14.

Bumburing asserted that the Prime Minister had contravened the Malaysian Constitution and it had also been breached by not tabling the Election Commission Report on the delineation for Sabah.

However, following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Parliament dissolution, Musa announced on April 6 the dissolution of the Sabah Legislative Assembly, effective yesterday.

When asked about the PCS’ originating summons, Musa said it did not prevent the dissolution of the assembly.

“The pending legal suit does not prevent the dissolution of the assembly and the existing 60 seats are still legal notwithstanding the amendment because Parliament has not approved the additional seats nor has the Agong issued the order for the additional seats,” explained Musa.