Kuala Lumpur: Pejuang State Assemblyman Harumaini Omar has reportedly denied that he was absent from the assembly sittings for six months, after he was thrown out and his Batang Kali seat declared vacant.
Harumaini told The Star that he had not attended the sessions because he was unwell and added that he is speaking to lawyers to see if he could seek legal redress.
“Last year, I attended the sitting in July and the session ended in early August. The next session was in November, so do the six months also include the months that the assembly was not in session?” the former Batang Kali assemblyman asked.
“I am unsure of my next move, but I wish there was some consideration accorded as the state elections are just a few months away,” the Selangor Pejuang chief added.
Selangor State assembly Speaker Ng Suee Lim made the announcement that the Batang Kali seat is now vacant following Haruiman’s absence without leave for more than six months since July 28.
He added that assemblymen could be absent for valid reasons, but it must be done with notification.
According to Ng, a by-election will not be called since Harumaini has been holding his seat for more than two years since his term begins in the 2018 Selangor state election.
Ng said the declaration of Harumaini’s Batang Kali seat as vacant was done in accordance with Article LXIX of the 1959 Selangor state constitution, and that he would notify the Election Commission (EC) soon regarding the declaration of vacancy.
Malay Mail’s check of the Selangor state constitution’s Article LXIX shows the provision stating that the Selangor state assembly Speaker is to declare a state seat as vacant, if that state assemblyman has been absent for more than six months without the Speaker’s leave or permission in each sitting for a period of six months.
Harumaini, who first won the Batang Kali state seat in the 2018 Selangor state election, was reported on August 15, 2020 to have quit Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and expressed support for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had at the time formed a new party called Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.
