“I won’t be appealing. I would rather Barisan Nasional (BN) fights for the cause of the people in a by-election than take up a legal case.

“But that does not mean I agree with the court’s judgment,” he told FMT.

“I feel the judgment is unfair as it links me to corrupt practices, but it is better to fight our battle where it matters.”

He added that the court would now inform the Election Commission to call for a by-election.

As MP for Cameron Highlands, he said, the people had been aware of his efforts to improve their lives by looking into traffic conditions, pollution and housing problems in the tourist spot.

He said even though he had been working hard in the constituency, he would leave the decision on candidacy to MIC president S Vigneswaran.

Cameron Highlands is traditionally an MIC seat. It was won by Sivarraajh in the May 9 polls with a 567-vote majority.

However, the seat was declared vacant by the Kuala Lumpur Election Court in November, which cited elements of graft during campaigning.

The Election Court, hearing a petition by the losing DAP candidate, held on Nov 30 that corrupt practices had been proven to have been committed with the knowledge and consent of Sivarraajh in the campaign for the Cameron Highlands seat.

During the petition hearing, Orang Asli leaders testified that BN candidates for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary and Jelai state seats had given a total of RM2,100 to six Tok Batins, in seeking their support a few days before polling day.

The Tok Batins also said they were given RM200 as “duit rokok” or pocket money during the 12-day campaign period.

Sivarraajh has denied paying money to buy votes.