Court turns down Umno petition for Marang

THE Federal Court in Putrajaya today affirmed Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang as the Marang parliamentary representative after it dismissed an appeal by a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate to nullify the PAS president’s 15th general election result.

A Federal Court three-member panel unanimously ruled against the petitioner, BN candidate Jasmira Othman, in his bid to unseat Abdul Hadi after finding Jasmira had failed to prove the petition beyond reasonable doubt that voter inducement had taken place.

The three-member panel was led by President of the Court of Appeal Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, together with Federal Court judges Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang and Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof.

Abang Iskandar said the petitioner failed to prove and establish the principle of agency over the appointment of several Terengganu state excos by Abdul Hadi to distribute financial aid from the state government a few days before GE15 in the constituency.

In GE15, Abdul Hadi retained the Marang seat with a majority of 41,729 votes, defeating three other candidates, namely Jasmira, Azhar Ab Shukur (Pakatan Harapan) and Zarawi Sulong (Parti Pejuang Tanah Air).