KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 ― The Election Commission (EC) has formally cancelled the previously scheduled Pujut by-election, to abide by the ruling of a Sarawak High Court which restored DAP’s Dr Ting Tiong Choon’s post as its state assemblyman with immediate effect.

In a statement today by EC chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah announcing the decision, the commission said it will now hold a special meeting on the matter.

“With regards to that, EC abides by the decision and will take necessary actions in line with the court ruling,” he added.

A High Court in Kuching decided this morning that the state assembly is not a competent forum to disqualify any state assemblyman as its member.

The court was ruling on an Originating Summons filed by Dr Ting challenging his disqualification by the state assembly on May 12.

The judge also said that Sarawak Speaker Datuk Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar had failed to apply the rule of natural justice when he disallowed a request by the plaintiff for a stand down to enable him to prepare his defence before a motion to disqualify him was tabled.

He also ordered that the Speaker, International Trade and E-Commerce Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, who tabled the motion to disqualify Dr Ting, and Sarawak state assembly to pay cost of RM100,000 to Dr Ting.

He rejected an application by Shankar Ram Asnani, lawyer for the Speaker, for a stay of his ruling pending appeal to the Court of Appeal.