KUALA TERENGGANU, June 27 — The Terengganu Election Court today annulled the victory of Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim, who represented PAS in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Judge Datuk Seri Mohd Firuz Jaffril said the petitioner, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Mohd Zubir Embong, succeeded in proving that corruption had taken place with the aim of influencing voters in GE15.
He said although the petitioner was not presented as a witness, other evidence was sufficient to declare the election in Kuala Terengganu null and void, according to Section 36 of the Election Offences Act.
The court also ordered the respondent to pay RM50,000 to the petitioner and allowed the respondent to file an appeal within 14 days.
Amzad was represented by lawyer Wan Rohimi Wan Daud while Zubir was represented by Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun.
On January 3, Terengganu Umno filed a petition at the Kuala Terengganu High Court to annul the GE15 result of the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in accordance with the Election Offences Act 1954.
According to Terengganu Umno chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, among the points raised in the petition were allegations that PAS had bribed voters by distributing financial aid from the state government through the i-Pencen, i-Belia and i-Siswa initiatives between November 15 and 17, 2022, which was just a few days before GE15.
Amzad won the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in GE15 with a majority of 40,907 votes, defeating three other challengers, including Zubir.
Meanwhile, Wan Rohimi said they would file a notice of appeal to the Federal Court soon after Aidiladha.
Separately, the Terengganu Election Court upheld the victory of PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang in the Marang parliamentary constituency.
Judge Datuk Hassan Abdul Ghani dismissed the election petition filed by BN candidate Jasmira Othman to challenge Hadi’s victory.
He said the petitioner failed to prove that there were elements of corruption according to the Election Offences Act 1954 and ordered Jasmira to pay RM50,000 in costs.
In GE15, Hadi retained the Marang seat with a majority of 41,729 votes, defeating three other candidates, namely Jasmira, Azhar Ab Shukur (Pakatan Harapan) and Dr Zarawi Sulong (Pejuang).
— Bernama
