Secara umumnya kerusi P.18 mempunyai 51,444 pengundi dengan pecahan kepada 2 DUN iaitu DUN N.35 Kulim dan N.36 Bandar Baharu yang pecahan pengundi adalah seperti di atas.
[Dari The Star]
ALOR STAR: A High Court here has struck out an election petition for the Kulim-Bandar Baru parliamentary seat after Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir withdrew his petition.
Justice Datuk Balia Yusof Wahi made the decision after Abdul Aziz’s counsel Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaludin told the court of his client’s decision on Monday.
The withdrawal allowed PKR candidate Zulkifli Nordin to continue as Member of Parliament for Kulim-Bandar Baru.
When met outside the court Monday, Abdul Aziz said that his decision to withdraw the petition was made after discussions with Barisan leaders. He said the decision was made after taking into consideration the current economic situation.
“I am willing to sacrifice my right to challenge Zulkifli so that the people and the government can work together to stabilise the country’s political, economic and unity situation, which are in critical condition right now,” he said.
He said that he also respected the decision made by Kulim-Bandar Baru voters in the March 8 general election.
Abdul Aziz also said that he would continue to serve the people in Kulim-Bandar Baru through a Barisan service centre that he had since set up.
In the petition he filed in April this year, he had named Zulkifli, the returning officer and the Election Commission (EC) as the first, second and third respondents respectively.
Abdul Aziz had requested the court to declare that the March 8 election results for the Kulim-Bandar Baru seat be null and void.
Zulkifli won the seat, polling 22,255 votes against Abdul Aziz’s 5,583.
Zulkifli was recently embroiled in the controversy involving the Bar Council forum on Muslim conversion.
The PKR disciplinary committee is inquiring into his action, but has not taken any disciplinary measure yet.
In the petition Abdul Aziz claimed that Zulkifli had failed to submit his statement of expenditure when he contested the Kuala Langat parliamentary seat in the 2004 general election, which contravenes the Election Act.
Abdul Aziz also claimed that the returning officer had failed to act against Zulkifli’s nomination despite the fact that EC had the documents confirming Zulkifli’s failure to submit his statement of expenditure.
Versi Bahasa Melayu:
Mengulas desas-desus wakil rakyat PKR kawasan itu Zulkifli Nordin akan menyertai Umno, Abdul Aziz berkata beliau tidak tahu tentang perkara tersebut.
"Tetapi saya juga ada mendengar khabar angin itu," katanya.
Zulkifli terlibat membantah penganjuran forum 'Memeluk Islam' anjuran Majlis Peguam awal Ogos lalu. Penglibatannya menimbulkan pelbagai reaksi pro dan kontra sehingga dihadapkan ke jawatankuasa disiplin PKR pada 6 September.
Bagaimanapun, sebarang keputusan belum dibuat hingga kini.Desas-desus mengatakan beliau akan menyertai Umno kerana tidak berpuas hati berhubung tindakan parti itu, yang dikepalai Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Abdul Aziz, ditanya sama ada keputusan beliau menarik balik petisyen itu akan menyebabkan kerugian bagi Umno dan dirinya, beliau berkata:“Saya cuma hilang satu peluang. Bagaimanapun, di hujungnya, rakyat akan buat keputusan.”
Beliau yang juga ketua bahagian Umno Kulim-Bandar Baharu mendakwa masih mempunyai tanggungjawab dan tugas yang sama seperti Zulkifli walaupun tidak menjadi wakil rakyat.“Saya ada pusat khidmat masyarakat. Saya masih bekerja macam biasa, cuma tidak menjadi ahli parlimen sahaja,” katanya.
Sementara itu, peguam Zulkifli, Aaqbal Shiffudin Adnan Sallehudin berkata pihaknya gembira dengan keputusan mahkamah itu.Bagaimanapun, peguamnya itu belum mendapat maklum balas daripada anak guamnya.
Ahli parlimen itu tidak menghadiri sidang Dewan Rakyat hari ini.
[Komen Cabai Melaka: Patut2nya Zulkifli meninggalkan PKR yg semakin hitam-legam sbb parti tu dah banyak orang bukan-Melayu yg join sbb boss PKR depa tu dok berjanji macam-macam mimpi]