The Election Commission will have a special meeting on Friday to discuss the by-election for the Pujut state constituency in Sarawak, said EC chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah.

He said in a statement today that the EC was officially notified of the vacant seat by Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar today.

The seat fell vacant after Dr Ting Tiong Choon of the DAP was disqualified as the state assemblyman on May 12 for allegedly having Australian citizenship.

A motion seeking his disqualification was supported by 70 assemblymen in the 82-seat assembly. Ten assemblymen opposed it.

-- BERNAMA