KUCHING: The Election Commission (EC) today confirmed that the Pujut state seat by-election, which had been scheduled for nomination tomorrow, has been called off.
Its chairman, Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah, said the cancellation was made in view of the judgement made on Saturday by the High Court here, which declared that the state seat is not vacant.
Hashim said the decision to cancel the by-election was made during a special meeting to discuss the EC's next course of action.
"The High Court in Kuching, on June 17, had nullified the decision by the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (Sarawak DUN), which removed Dr Ting Tiong Choon as the Pujut state assemblyman.
"Following the decision, the Returning Officer took the necessary action of cancelling the writ for the Pujut state seat by-election.
"The cancellation of the writ was (communicated) to the EC this evening," said Hashim in a statement.
He added that a notice on the by-election’s cancellation will be displayed at the Miri Civic Centre and the Returning Officer's Office in Miri, beginning today.
Dr Ting of DAP was sacked by the Sarawak DUN following a ministerial motion moved against him on May 12 on the grounds that he allegedly held dual citizenship.
The medical practitioner responded by filing an originating summons to challenge his disqualification as the elected Pujut representative and restore his position in the August House.
The High Court allowed Dr Ting's originating summons and reinstated him as the Pujut assemblyman.
It was reported that the Sarawak DUN is mulling an appeal against the High Court's decision.