KUANTAN, May 28- Judges hearing petitions filed by political parties on the 13th General Election have to settle the cases within six months, Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria (photo) said today.
He said failing to do would delay the decision-making process by the court and, hence, it would not be in compliance with the law.
“This is because after decisions have been handed down, there will be appeals made to the Federal Court.
“This also takes time because we have six months to dispose of the cases. If all can be done within the stipulated period, the petitions on the election can be disposed of within a year,” he told reporters after the opening of the Kuantan Courts Complex at Bandar Indera Mahkota here by the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah.
The event was also attended by the Chief Judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Zulkifli Ahmad Makinuddin, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjun and Kuantan High Court Judge Datuk Seri Mariana Yahya.
Arifin, however, expressed confidence that the election petitions could be disposed of within the stipulated period.
“So far, we have been able to dispose of all election petitions within the stipulated period. So, God willing, this time around, the same thing will happen,” he added.
– BERNAMA
