This follows the Federal Court’s decision today to dismiss the appeal by the incumbent assemblyman, Dr Aleef Yusof.

Chief Judge of Malaya Azahar Mohamed, who chaired a three-member bench, said the order of the High Court election judge is not appealable in the Federal Court.

“The appellant (Aleef) is not prejudiced because he can still raise the same issues before the election judge,” said Azahar, who sat with Mary Lim and Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal in an online proceeding.

On Dec 30, election judge Azman Abdullah dismissed all preliminary objections raised by Bersatu’s Aleef and the Election Commission (EC), paving the way to hear allegations of bribery by Ali, who lost by a 530-vote majority in a four-cornered fight.

The respondents want the petition to be dismissed as the procedures were not strictly followed. The EC and the returning officer did not appeal.

Ali wants the result to be nullified as he claims that Aleef’s victory was sullied “due to there being elements of bribery”.

In his petition, he said deputy defence minister Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz, the Perikatan Nasional MP for Tanah Merah, had assisted Aleef to win the seat, which has a substantial number of army voters.

Lawyer Hafarizam Harun, who appeared for Ali, said a five-day trial will begin from April 18. Counsel Rosli Dahlan represented Aleef.

According to election law, the petition must be disposed of within six months.

Ali filed the petition on Dec 14 soon after the election results were gazetted.