DEWAN Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said he will make a ruling on Monday on C. Sivarraajh’s membership in Parliament after a court nullified the latter’s victory in the Cameron Highlands seat. 

He told lawmakers today that it remained unclear to him whether the Kuala Lumpur Election Court had made a declaration or ruling regarding the matter. 

He added he had not received legal documents to show whether there was a stay on the decision by the court. He said he expected to receive the documents today.

Ariff was reacting to calls by Barisan Nasional lawmakers, including the Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who insisted Sivarraajh be let into the Dewan Rakyat today.

“He has the right to be in Parliament until the 14-day appeal period is over. He has the right until the federal court has made a decision,” said the former deputy prime minister. 

“I request that Cameron Highlands be allowed to sit in his seat today.” 

Former Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin told Ariff: “You have prejudged this case by declaring him a stranger of the House.” 

BN lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat later staged a walkout after Ariff stood by his decision.

Yesterday, Ariff ordered Sivarraajh, who is also MIC vice-president, out of the Parliament hall after the Election Court declared the Cameron Highlands seat vacant last week.

Sivarraajh was told he had to stay out pending clarification on whether the Election Court had issued a stay order on its declaration that the Cameron Highlands seat would remain vacant until the appeal process was concluded.

“Do you have a stay order or not? You better see a legal expert to decide on your appeal because otherwise, you’re a stranger in this House,” Ariff had said. 
 
“So, in the meantime, please leave the assembly. Get a lawyer’s opinion, and send it to the speaker’s office,” he had added. 
 
The court had declared the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat vacant last Friday after finding sitting Sivarraajh guilty of bribing Orang Asli voters in the run-up to the May 9 general election.

Justice Azizah Nawawi had said that a “pattern of giving money to voters during the period before the election” and corrupt practices had been proven.

The graft allegedly took place during meetings in April and May this year, as claimed by the petitioner M. Manogaran, the DAP candidate for Cameron Highlands. 

In GE14, Sivarraajh won the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat by garnering 10,307 votes, defeating four other candidates.

He had said he would be appeal the decision. – December 6, 2018.