11 Feb 2020
THE SPEAKER OF DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI SARAWAK DATUK AMAR MOHAMAD ASFIA AWANG NASSAR 1. TING TIONG CHOON (KP: 651031-13-5119) 2. DATO SERI WONG SOON KOH 3. DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI SARAWAK 4. SURUHANJAYA PILIHAN RAYA MALAYSIA
- Citation
- 01(f)-20-08/2019(Q) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)
- Court
- f
- Case number
- 01(f)-20-08/2019(Q) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)
The Dewan lacked jurisdiction to entertain the Ministerial Motion because the alleged disqualification was incurred before election (a pre-election disqualification) and Article 19(1) of the Sarawak Constitution contemplates the Dewan deciding whether a member "has ceased" to be qualified (post-election); pre-election disqualification is to be determined by an election petition under Article 118 of the Federal Constitution. Additionally, the Dewan’s denial of reasonable time to the member to prepare his defence amounted to a breach of natural justice.