SECOND-term Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya, who just joined Bersatu after leaving Umno earlier this week, will keep his seat after a petition against the seat’s results in the 14th general election was cancelled at the election court this morning.

The challenge was filed by Bersatu secretary-general Marzuki Yahya, who ran against Shabudin in GE14 but lost by 81 votes.

Marzuki’s lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali said both sides have decided not to pursue the challenge against the election result.

“Today was case management for the petition. As you know, we had previously studied the Form 14 (containing the total votes received by candidates at each polling station) to study the results of the election.

“After studying the forms, we – including Shabudin’s counsel Simon Tan – have decided that it is better to cancel the petition.

“Considering some situations and technical aspects of the case, it is better not to pursue the petition to save cost and the court’s time,” Rafique told reporters at the court.

Election court judge Hashim Hamzah declared the petition cancelled and that Shabudin remains MP of Tasek Gelugor, representing his new party Bersatu.

Shabudin was one of seven Umno MPs who jumped ship and received their Bersatu membership forms from party chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also prime minister, earlier this week.

Marzuki, who is deputy foreign minister, had previously told the media he intended to pursue his election petition despite Shabudin’s crossover. – February 15, 2019.