THE Malacca High Court today ruled that Perikatan Nasional candidate Mas Ermieyati Samsudin’s victory in Masjid Tanah parliamentary constituency in last year’s general election is valid.

Justice Abu Bakar Katar, sitting as an Election Court judge, dismissed the election petition filed by Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Abdul Hakim Abdul Wahid to nullify Mas Ermieyati’s win.

On January 3, Hakim filed the petition, alleging money and feasts were used to lure voters in the November 19 polls.

Mas Ermieyati’s lawyer, Mohd Faizi Che Abu, was reported as saying the court found that there was insufficient evidence to support the petitioner’s claim.

The court also ordered Hakim to pay RM50,000 in costs to Mas Ermieyati.

On September 25, it was reported that Hakim failed to call key witnesses for the trial.

On February 7, the court struck out the petition when it allowed Mas Ermieyati’s preliminary objection.

However, on appeal, the Federal Court ordered the election petition be sent back to the High Court for a full hearing of its merits.

Mas Ermieyati won the seat with a majority of 4,411 votes in a four-cornered contest against Hakim, Mutalib Uthman (Muda) and Handrawirawan Abu Bakar (Pejuang). – October 27, 2023.