KUALA LUMPUR – The Election Commission (EC) has announced that the by-election for the Nenggiri state seat in Kelantan will be held on August 17.
Its chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said nomination day for the candidates would be held on August 3, while early voting is set for August 13.
“A total of RM1.6 million will be allocated for the Nenggiri by-election.
“The electoral voter list for the Nenggiri state assembly by-election comprises 20,259 voters,” he said at the EC headquarters today.
The election was called after the Kelantan state assembly declared the seat vacant on June 19.
Kelantan speaker Amar Abdullah declared the Nenggiri seat vacant after being notified that its assemblyman Azizi Abu Naim’s membership with Bersatu had been terminated.
This is after Azizi failed to withdraw support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and remain loyal to Bersatu.
Azizi had previously made a court challenge to remain as Nenggiri’s representative at the Kelantan assembly.
According to lawyers representing the recently booted state assemblyman, Azizi filed an action at the high court here seeking various declaratory orders, including one to nullify the Kelantan speaker’s decision to vacate his seat.
Bersatu issued termination notices to party defectors who declared support for the prime minister, citing non-compliance.
On June 12, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that he would notify Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, as well as the Selangor and Kelantan speakers, about the status of the seven representatives. – June 28, 2024