THE Malacca High Court will rule on February 7 on a preliminary objection to the election petition filed by the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate to annul the result of the Masjid Tanah parliamentary seat, which was won by Mas Ermieyati Samsudin in the 15th general election.

Judge Anselm Charles Fernandis set the date to enable the parties involved to provide additional submissions.

Lawyer Mohd Faizi Che Abu represented Mas Ermieyati, while lawyer Rosfinah Rahmat acted on behalf of the BN candidate for Masjid Tanah, Abdul Hakim Abdul Wahid.

The court had initially set today for the decision.

Hakim filed the petition last January 3, alleging that bribery, in the form of money and banquets, was used to woo voters in the November 19 polls.

Mas Ermieyati filed a preliminary objection to the petition, claiming, among others, that the petition was filed out of time as prescribed under section 38 of the Election Offences Act 1954.

She said the petitioner (Hakim) also erred because he did not name the returning officer and the Election Commission officer in the petition.

Mas Ermieyati (Perikatan Nasional) won the seat with a majority of 4,411 votes in a four-cornered contest against Hakim, Mutalib Uthman (Muda) and Handrawirawan Abu Bakar (Pejuang). – Bernama, January 31, 2023.