KUCHING, June 9 ― The High Court will decide on the legality of Dr Ting Tiong Choon’s sacking as Pujut assembly on June 19, just a day before the scheduled nominations to elect his replacement is held.

Judge Datuk Douglas Primus Sikayun had earlier today heard arguments from lawyers representing Dr Ting who filed an originating summons against his sacking from the Sarawak assembly last month.

"The judge has set aside June 15 and 16 to hear the full argument by both parties,” state legal officer Safri Ali told reporters later, adding that the court has also ordered the parties to submit facts of their arguments on June 14.

Safri and Hishamuddin Rosli represented Sarawak Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Sarawak International Trade and E-commerce Minister Datuk Sri Wong Soon Koh, the state assembly and the state government while senior federal counsel Azizan Md Arshad and Nik Azrin Zairin acted for the Election Commission.

Dr Ting was represented by lawyers Chong Siew Chiang, Wong King Wei, Tan Kee Heng and Michael Kong in this morning's case management.

Chong told reporters that there would be no by-election if the court decides the state assembly has no power to strip Dr Ting of his membership in the state assembly.

"Our argument is that under Article 118 of the Federal Constitution, such power lies with the Election Court,” he said.

Pujut is one of the three state constituencies under the Miri parliamentary constituency. In the May 7, 2016 state election, Ting took Pujut with a majority of 1,759 votes in a four-cornered contest involving DAP, Barisan Nasional, PAS and an independent candidate.