Perlis Speaker to notify EC about Chuping, Bintong, Guar Sanji vacancies after PAS sacks three ADUNs.
PETALING JAYA: Three seats in the Perlis state legislative assembly have been officially declared vacant after the former representatives were expelled from PAS, with by-elections likely despite the assembly nearing the end of its three-year term.
According to New Straits Times, Perlis state assembly speaker Rus’ele Eizan announced today that he will formally notify the Election Commission (EC) about the vacancies in Chuping, Bintong, and Guar Sanji constituencies.
The seats were previously held by Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong), and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji), all of whom were dismissed from PAS last night.
READ MORE: PAS terminates membership of three Perlis state assemblymen
Their expulsion from the party automatically triggered the Anti-Hopping Law provisions, resulting in the loss of their assembly seats.
Although the current assembly term is approaching its conclusion, Rus’ele emphasised that by-elections should still be conducted to fill the vacant positions.
The present assembly commenced its first sitting on December 19, 2022, meaning the three-year term officially ends on December 18 this year—just weeks away.
Despite this proximity to the term’s natural conclusion, the speaker believes the vacancies warrant immediate action.
Speaking at a press conference today, Rus’ele explained that the political situation in Perlis necessitates filling these seats promptly.
“However, in my view, given the current developments in the state, these vacancies have affected the majority in the state assembly,” he stated.
The speaker stressed that leaving the seats vacant could compromise governmental stability and the administration’s ability to serve constituents effectively.
Rus’ele indicated he will exercise his discretionary authority to inform the Election Commission in writing that the assembly’s majority has been impacted by the vacancies.
“Under these circumstances, the three vacancies should be filled to ensure government stability and provide the best service to the people,” he said.
“I will exercise my discretion to inform the EC in writing that the state assembly’s majority is affected and request that by-elections be held to fill the vacancies,” he added.
The three expulsions represent a significant development in Perlis politics, potentially shifting the balance of power within the state assembly.
The timing—occurring so close to the natural end of the assembly term—creates an unusual situation where by-elections may be held just weeks or months before state elections would typically be called.
However, the speaker’s emphasis on maintaining governmental majority suggests that the current administration views these seats as crucial for legislative effectiveness during the remaining term.
