MIC vice-president C Sivarraajh has been disqualified from contesting in the Cameron Highlands by-election.

Election Commission chief Azhar Harun said under the Election Offences Act, for the next five years, Sivarraajh "cannot be registered as a voter and vote in any election" as well as "be elected in any election."

In a statement, Azhar said this decision was reached after reviewing the ruling made by the Election Court on Nov 30.

The Election Court had on Nov 30 declared the Cameron Highlands seat vacant after determining that corrupt practices had led to Sivarraajh’s win in the 14th general election (GE14).

In GE14, Sivarraajh had won the seat in a five-cornered fight with 10,307 votes, a slim 597 votes more than DAP’s 9,710 votes.

In that election, PAS garnered 3,587 votes, PSM, 680 votes and Berjasa, 81 votes.

Cameron Highlands was one of just two seats MIC had won in the election.

Sivaraajah has declined to comment on the EC's announcement.

"I do not wish to comment as yet as I’m discussing the matter with my lawyer.

“I will inform you if there are any developments,” he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.