EC to discuss Mahkota state by election next week

KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission (EC) will hold a special meeting on August 13 to discuss the implementation of the Mahkota state by-election.

According to FMT, EC Secretary Datuk Ikmalrudin Ishak said the meeting will be held following the receipt of official notification from Johor State Assembly Speaker Puad Zarkashi regarding the unexpected vacancy of the seat.

“According to the Johor State Law, 1895, Part Two, Clause (5) of Article 23, the unexpected vacancy must be filled within 60 days from the date the EC receives notification of the vacancy,” he said in a statement.

A press conference will be held immediately after the special meeting, he added.

The Mahkota state seat became vacant following the death of Assemblywoman Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, due to internal bleeding at Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital last Friday.

She won the seat in the 2022 state elections with 16,611 votes in a four-cornered contest, defeating candidates from Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional, and Warisan.

Sharifah Azizah, who was also the head of Wanita Umno Kluang since 1993, won the seat in the Johor 2022 state elections. Prior to that, she served as the Assemblywoman for Penawar since 2018.