JUDGMENT

Chang Min Tat J:

The plaintiff, a Member of Parliament, applies by way of an Originating Summons for various determinations and declarations arising from his conviction for sedition and a fine of $2,000 in the High Court on 13 January 1975.

The conviction and fine imposed would appear to bring him within the scope of Art. 48 of the Federal Constitution. This Article provides that -

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, a person is disqualified for being a member of either House of Parliament if -

....

(e)he has been convicted of an offence by a Court of law in the Federation ... and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine of not less than two thousand dollars and has not received a free pardon.

Clause 3 of this Article provides, in its relevant parts, that -

(3) The disqualification of a person under... paragraph (e) of c (1) may be removed by the Yang Dipertuan Agung and shall, if not so removed, cease at the end of the period of five years beginning with the date ... on which the person convicted as mentioned in the said para (e) was released from custody or the date on which the fine mentioned in the said para (e) was i