A three-member panel, chaired by Court of Appeal president Justice Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim today dismissed an appeal by Azmi Mahmood, filed on behalf of Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, to reinstate the petition to challenge Azizi’s win.

Azizi, who contested under Perikatan Nasional, obtained a 163-vote majority, defeating the Umno veteran as well as Pakatan Harapan and Pejuang in a four-cornered fight.

Also on the panel hearing the appeal were Justices Rhodzariah Bujang and Abu Bakar Jais.

It also awarded RM30,000 in costs to Azizi.

Azmi’s petition claimed that money had been paid to voters in return for their support for Azizi.

The petition was struck out on Sept 5 because Azmi failed to attend court proceedings after sacking his lawyers.

Earlier today, Azmi’s lawyer Zubairy Hussain told the court that certain legal requirements were not met when the election court struck out the petition.

However, Azizi’s lawyer, Yusfarizal Yussoff, said the appeal was incompetent as Azmi should have filed his application with the Kota Bharu election court to set aside the order that struck out his petition.

Azizi is one of five opposition MPs who recently declared their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

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