A legal showdown is unfolding in Perlis after three PAS state assemblymen filed a court challenge against the Speaker of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly, disputing the decision to declare their seats vacant following their expulsion from the party.
The lawmakers — Mohd Ridzuan Hashim, Fakhrul Anwar Ismail and Saad Seman — contend that the Speaker’s move was procedurally unsound and went beyond the powers vested in the office. They maintain that such a declaration has far-reaching implications for voter representation and democratic accountability.
The Speaker, Rus’sele Eizan, announced the vacancy of the seats a day after PAS terminated the trio’s party memberships on December 24. The move came at the height of a political crisis in the state that eventually saw the resignation of Mohd Shukri Ramli as menteri besar and the appointment of Abu Bakar Hamzah.
The assemblymen said their decision to seek judicial intervention was driven by concern for their constituents, noting that prolonged vacancies could leave entire constituencies without representation until the next state election.
The suit, filed through lawyer Mohd Jamil Yaacob, names both the Speaker and the Perlis State Legislative Assembly as defendants.
Rus’sele has since said that the lawmakers are entitled to pursue legal action and that he was simply discharging his duties as Speaker. He added that his office has not yet received any formal court documents.
The outcome of the case is expected to clarify key constitutional questions surrounding party discipline, legislative authority and the balance of power within state assemblies.