Tribunal on ex-EC members: AG to submit whether academic or not

The tribunal to probe alleged misconduct by former Election Commission (EC) members in the 14th general election will hear an oral submission from attorney-general Tommy Thomas on Feb 28 on whether the tribunal is academic or not.

The tribunal's secretary had sent out a notice requesting all parties involved in the proceedings to attend the proceeding for the AG's oral submission, as reported by The Malaysian Insight.

A spokesperson from the Attorney-General's Chambers confirmed this.

"Following proceedings of the tribunal held on Jan 28, 2019, the tribunal has agreed to convene on Feb 28 to hear oral submissions from the honourable attorney-general at his request.

"All counsel on record for the EC members are likewise invited to submit on the preliminary issue of whether this tribunal proceeding is academic. Counsel wishing to tender written submissions in advance to the tribunal may address it to the secretary of the tribunal," the notice read.

Read more: Lawyers for ex-EC members oppose follow-up tribunal hearing

The six former EC members under investigation by the tribunal are Othman Mahmood, Md Yusop Mansor, Abdul Aziz Khalidin, Sulaiman Narawi, Bala Singam Karupiah and Leo Chong Cheong.

They all resigned last year in October and November. Their resignations came into effect on January 1 this year.

In the tribunal's first hearing last month, lawyers for the six former EC commissioners said the proceedings were academic as their clients were no longer in the commission.

However, Thomas had said their resignations were done to impede the tribunal's investigations.