KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 — The Batang Kali state seat is now vacant, following its lawmaker Harumaini Omar’s absence without leave for more than six months from the Selangor state legislative assembly, a report has said.

According to news portal Malaysiakini, Selangor state legislative assembly Speaker Ng Suee Lim made this announcement.

Separately, news outlet Harian Metro reported that Harumaini had been absent without leave for more than six months since July 28 last year.

Harian Metro cited Ng as saying that the declaration of Harumaini’s Batang Kali seat as vacant was done in accordance with Article LXIX of the 1959 Selangor state constitution, and that he would notify the Election Commission (EC) soon regarding the declaration of vacancy.

Malay Mail’s check of the Selangor state constitution’s Article LXIX shows the provision stating that the Selangor state assembly Speaker is to declare a state seat as vacant, if that state assemblyman has been absent for more than six months without the Speaker’s leave or permission in each sitting for a period of six months.

Harumaini, who first won the Batang Kali state seat in the 2018 Selangor state election, was reported on August 15, 2020 to have quit Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and expressing support for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had at the time formed a new party called Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.

Harumaini is currently the Selangor Pejuang chief.

Last week, Dr Mahathir and 12 other party leaders announced that they had left Pejuang.