The political landscape in Perlis has taken a significant turn after an official notification regarding unexpected vacancies for three State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats — Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji — was formally submitted to the Election Commission (SPR), paving the way for the possibility of by-elections.
Perlis State Assembly Speaker Rus’sele Eizan confirmed that the notice was handed over at the Perlis SPR office at around noon. He said the letter also outlined the reasons why by-elections were deemed necessary to fill the vacant seats.
According to Rus’sele, his responsibility as Speaker is to officially inform the Election Commission of any vacancy that occurs, and the matter is now fully under SPR’s consideration. The commission is expected to assess the notice before determining further action, including whether to proceed with by-elections.
The vacancies were announced on December 25 when Rus’sele declared that the membership of three PAS assemblymen — Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) — had ceased immediately. The decision was made in line with Article 50A Clause (1)(a)(ii) of the Laws of the Government of Perlis.
Although the Perlis State Assembly recently marked its third year on December 18, the state government believes that filling the vacant seats is crucial to safeguard administrative stability and ensure continued representation for affected constituencies.
Earlier, PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang stated that the membership of the three assemblymen ceased immediately under Clause 76 and Clause 15A(1)(b) of the amended 2025 PAS Constitution. The development attracted strong public and political attention given its impact on the state’s government structure.
In the 15th General Election (GE15), Perikatan Nasional dominated Perlis by winning 14 out of 15 seats — nine secured by PAS and five by Bersatu — while Pakatan Harapan managed to retain only one seat through PKR in Indera Kayangan.
If by-elections are to be held, they are expected to be a major political battleground, not only to fill vacancies but also as a test of voter sentiment towards the ruling coalition. Political observers believe SPR’s decision will shape the next phase of Perlis politics.
For now, attention remains focused on SPR’s evaluation process and the potential announcement of by-elections. Whatever the outcome, it will significantly influence governance stability and political dynamics in Malaysia’s northernmost state.