Court dismisses PKR petition over Machang BN victory

The Election Court today dismissed with costs a petition brought by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to nullify the victory of the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Machang parliamentary constituency in the 13th general election on May 5.

Judge Datuk Zamani Abdul Rahim, in his ruling, said the petitioner had failed to comply with provisions under the Election Petition Rules 1954, and dismissed the petition with costs.

He ordered the petitioner to pay RM30,000 in costs to the first respondent, Machang MP Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, and RM15,000 each to the second and third respondents, namely the returning officer and the Election Commission (EZC), respectively.

In the general election, Ahmad Jazlan, the Machang Umno Division chief, beat Wan Zawawi Wan Ismail of PKR by 805 votes.

Wan Zawawi had filed the petition.