Sivarraajh loses bid to quash ea ban
KUALA Former Cameron Highlands MP Datuk C. Sivarraajh has failed to quash a ban that barred him from contesting or voting in any election for five years on grounds of bribery during the polls.
High Court judge Justice Nordin Hassan ruled that the ban by the Election Commission (EC), which was conveyed through a letter dated Dec 28 last year was in accordance with the law.
The court ruling effectively dismissed Sivarraajh’s attempt to turn over the EC ban via a judicial review process.
The letter, signed by EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun, bans Sivarraajh for five years from Dec 13, 2018.
In his decision, Justice Nordin said there was no illegality or irrationality with EC’s decision in barring Sivarraajh from taking part in elections in the future.
Therefore the application for a judicial review by the applicant is dismissed, he said here yesterday.
The court also ordered for the applicant to pay RM5,000 in costs.
Earlier, Justice Nordin heard submissions from both parties.
On Nov 30 last year, Barisan Nasional’s victory in the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat in GE14 was nullified when the Election Court found elements of corruption during campaigning for the constituency.
High Court judge Justice Azizah Nawawi said the petitioner, DAP’s M. Manogaran who filed the election petition to challenge the election results, had proven that bribery occurred during the polls.
Following the court’s decision, the EC made its ruling against Sivarraajh.
Sivarraajh later initiates a judicial review to challenge the decision of the EC prohibiting him from contesting in the Cameron Highlands by-election on Jan 26.
LUMPUR: