Three Perlis state seats declared vacant, speaker seeks by‑elections despite term nearing end

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — Perlis Speaker Rus’sele Eizan today declared vacancies in three seats in the state legislative assembly after PAS expelled their elected representatives  Christmas Eve last week.

The declaration of vacancies in Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji effectively paves the way for by-elections, even though the assembly has passed the three‑year mark of its five‑year term – by which point polls are usually not called.

Several local media including Free Malaysia Today and The Star reported Rus’sele as saying that he will write to the Election Commission (EC) to request that by‑elections be held due to political necessity. 

Citing Clause (1)(a)(ii) of Article 50A of the Perlis State Constitution, Rus’sele said the vacancies now satisfy the requirements for casual vacancies in the state legislative assembly, The Star reported.

The official notification of these vacancies, along with reasons for requesting polls, was submitted to the EC at its Perlis office last week, the speaker told reporters, leaving the decision on by‑elections to the commission. 

PAS announced on December 24 that it had terminated the party memberships of Saad Seman, Fakhrul Anwar Ismail and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim, respectively. 

Political analysts have said filling the seats could help clarify representation and legitimacy in the 15‑member assembly, particularly after recent shifts in support that led to a change in the menteri besar. 

The vacancies add to political uncertainty in the state following the resignation of former menteri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli earlier this week on health grounds and the appointment of a new MB. 

The EC is expected to consider Rus’sele’s notification in the coming days before making a decision on by‑elections for the three constituencies.