SEREMBAN: The Election Commission (EC) denied that it delayed the Rantau by-election to break Barisan Nasional’s momentum.
EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said the commission viewed the allegation seriously, adding that its move to set March 30 for nomination was not influenced by any political party.
“The EC in the strongest terms denies the allegation. As a constitutional body whose members are appointed by the Yang d-Pertuan Agong, the EC fulfils its responsibility and mandate professionally without siding any party in any election,” he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Umno acting president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, accused EC of delaying the Rantau by-election to slow down BN's momentum, following its two back-to-back victories in the Cameron Highlands and Semenyih by-elections.
He said the EC would normally announce the nomination process of a by-election a week after the seat was declared vacant.
"But instead, they waited for a month (for Rantau),” Mohamad was quoted as saying during a ‘ceramah’ in Taman Nusayu Bayu 2, which falls under the Kampung Sendayan polling district in Rantau.
"They wanted our momentum from Cameron Highlands and Semenyih to taper off or dissipate, that's why they did it," he was quoted as saying.
Azhar also said the EC had acted within the confines of the law, which stated that a seat has to be filled within 60 days, which falls on April 26.
He also said EC was required to issue an election writ no less than four days and no more than 10 days after the seat was declared vacant, in accordance with Section 12 of the Elections Act 1958.
“The EC held a special meeting on March 6 to determine the important dates (nomination day, early voting, polling day) for the by-election. At the same time, the EC was preparing for the Semenyih by-election, which was held on March 2."
The Rantau by-election is seeing a four-cornered fight between Mohamad from Barisan Nasional, Dr S. Streram from Pakatan Harapan, and two independent candidates R. Malarvizhi and Mohd Nor Yassin.
Polling day for the by-election has been set for April 13, with early voting being held four days earlier. The nomination process was held on March 30.