THE Malacca High Court today ruled that Bersatu’s Mas Ermieyati Samsudin shall remain the Masjid Tanah MP, after dismissing an election petition filed by her Barisan Nasional opponent Abdul Hakim Abdul Wahid.

Justice Anselm Charles Fernandis also ordered Hakim to pay Mas Ermieyati costs.

It was reported that Mas Ermieyati had raised a preliminary objection stating the petition had been filed outside the permitted deadline, which Fernandis accepted. 

According to section 38 of the Election Offences Act 1954, an election petition must be presented to court within 21 days of the publication of an election result.

Hakim filed the petition to nullify the result for Masjid Tanah on January 3, which was 45 days after the general election.

He claimed the Perikatan Nasional candidate handed out cash bribes and hosted feasts to seek the support of voters.

However, Fernandis said Hakim failed to explain his claims in detail or even how Mas Ermieyati was linked to several other people named in the petition.

Mas Ermieyati won Masjid Tanah with a majority of 4,411 votes. – February 7, 2023.