Pujut by-election set for July 4 (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: The Pujut by-election has been set for July 4 with nomination day on June 20, the Election Commission (EC) announced.
The announcement was made by EC chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah following a special meeting at its headquarters in Putrajaya earlier today.
"We have received a notification from the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly speaker on the vacancy of the Pujut state seat on May 16 following the removal of its assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon on May 12.
"The EC had a special meeting today and we have decided that a by-election needs to be held within 60 days after the seat falls vacant," he told reporters at a press conference following the meeting.
He added that the closing date for application of postal ballot papers for domestic and overseas voters will be on June 20 and June 22, respectively.
"The commission has also agreed for Miri City Council acting secretary Morshidi Fredrick to be the by-election managing officer and he will be assisted by three assistant managers.
"A total of 483 officers will be appointed to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Five schools will also be used as polling centres and it is estimated that a total of RM838,536 will be spent on this by-election," he said.
Meanwhile, commenting on Sarawak DAP's intention to challenge Ting's disqualification in court, Mohd Hashim said the commission will abide to any decision made by the court.
"If the court decides to maintain his status then we will abide by it unless there is an appeal and so on," he said.
However, he stressed that for the time being, the EC must execute its duties in accordance with the Federal Constitution by holding a by-election within 60 days of a seat being vacated.
"If we want to wait for the court case, when would the case be heard? Then you would be asking me when (the by-election would be held)," he explained.
The Pujut state seat fell vacant after Ting was disqualified as the state assemblyman on May 12 following claims he had an Australian citizenship.
Ting however has maintained that he renounced his Australian citizenship before the last state election.
A motion seeking his disqualification was supported by 70 assemblymen in the 82-seat assembly.
Ting won the Pujut state seat in a four-cornered fight in the last state election, with a majority of 1,759 votes.