PASIR PUTEH, 23 April 2009: The PPP today called on the Election Commission to appoint the candidate who received the second highest votes as the new elected representative in the event of a resignation by the incumbent.
Kelantan PPP chairperson Datuk Nik Sapeia Nik Yusoff said such move would reduce the possibility of elected representatives vacating their seats at their whims and fancies, besides preventing wastage of public fund.
“If there is a by-election every time an elected representative vacated his or her seat, then the government will have to spend a lot of money to hold the by-election,” he told Bernama here today.
He was commenting on the resignation of Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as the assemblyperson for Penanti in Penang, last week.
Nik Sapeia said elected representatives should focus on helping their constituents and not causing them more problems.
He said the resignation was not taken in the best interest of the people.
“If resigning is their way of solving problems, then they are not just wasting the people’s money, but also their time and energy,” he said.
Hence, if the elected representative resigned, he said it was better for the seat to be filled by the candidate who scored the second highest votes, regardless of their parties. — Bernama
tangkup says
Cadangan Nik Sapaeia itu adalah tidak masuk undang-undang. Tidak ada peruntukan dalam Akta SPR ataupun dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan.
konghu says
We should not agree on this arrangement! Many a time people are voted in according to the party they represent. It would not be fair if the runners-up are given the post. Where can the party concerned have any control over the resignation of a representative ?