KUALA LUMPUR (June 8): The Election Court in Melaka declared on Wednesday (June 8) that the Sungai Udang state seat belongs to the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) candidate Dr Mohd Aleef Yusof.

Justice Datuk Azman Abdullah dismissed Umno/Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad's election petition challenging the result for the seat during the state election in November last year.

Aleef's counsel Rosli Dahlan, who appeared with Chethan Jethwani, confirmed the outcome of the decision to theedgemarkets.com.

"The election judge dismissed the petition on all five grounds cited in the petition," he said.

The grounds included that Aleef was bribed to join Bersatu, and that he and Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham had bribed army officials.

The petition also alleged that there were election irregularities, postal voter irregularity and allegedly double voting.

Mohamad Ali had named Aleef, the Election Commission (EC) and the returning officer as respondents.

The Umno/BN petitioner, who is Melaka Umno secretary, was represented by Datin Rosfinah Rahmat and Nur Hazirah Abu Haiyan.

Senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly appeared for EC.

In the state election, Aleef garnered a majority of 530 votes in a four-cornered fight.