Kota Siputeh rep barred from state assembly

2009/11/08

By Adib Povera

ALOR STAR: Kota Siputeh assemblyman Datuk Abu Hassan Sharif of Barisan Nasional will not attend the Kedah assembly sitting next week.

A letter inviting the four-term assemblyman to the state assembly, scheduled on Nov 17, has been withdrawn.

Speaker Datuk Dr Abdul Isa Ismail said he sent the withdrawal letter four days ago.

He said the Kota Siputeh assemblyman had breached the rules and regulations of the state Constitution by being absent from two consecutive sittings this year.

"For such an offence, he is not allowed to attend the upcoming state assembly meeting."

Isa, however, declined to elaborate about the details of the letter sent to Abu Hassan.

Abu Hassan and state Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah were not available for comment.

On Aug 17, Isa had notified the Election Commission of the vacancy for the Kota Siputeh state seat after Abu Hassan failed to attend two consecutive meetings.

However, on Sept 1, commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said there was no vacancy for Kota Siputeh and that the state seat was still held by Abu Hassan.

The Pas-led state government later filed an application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to challenge the commission's decision over Abu Hassan's status as assemblyman.