PUTRAJAYA: Rejected Batu PKR candidate Tian Chua can file a petition in court on his disqualification to contest in the 14th General Election (GE14)
Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah said it would accept the court’s ruling.
“This decision is related to the court. The decision to disqualify him was made by the returning officer during the nomination period.
“So if anyone, including the candidate, feels that there is a need to make an objection, he can do so. He can file a petition with the court. Let the court decide,” he said at a press conference in conjunction with the GE14 nomination day at EC headquarters here.
Tian Chua, who is also PKR vice president, was denied from contesting the Batu parliamentary seat due to a case in Shah Alam Court in 2013.
When asked as to why Tian Chua was disqualified from becoming a candidate in GE14 when he could contest in the last GE13 despite having a court decision against him, Hashim stressed that the situation should be viewed in the perspective of laws and regulations imposed on Tian Chua.
“Maybe there is a reason why the returning officer rejected him. It may depend on the total amount of fine imposed on him, to a certain extent, that he was disqualified from contesting in GE14.
“That’s why I emphasise that if he is upset, he can file a petition with the court and we will abide by the court’s decision,
“If he can’t make it (to be a candidate) this time, we still have other elections,” he said.
When asked on PKR’s Dr S. Streram who was denied entry into the nomination centre to submit his nomination form, Hashim said EC was waiting for a full report from the returning officer Amino Agus Suyub.
“We are still waiting for a complete report from the returning officer, we cannot simply make allegations. At this point of time, we urge the involved party to file a petition if he is not satisfied,” he said.
It was understood that Streram, as well as his proposer and seconder, were not allowed to enter the nomination centre to submit the forms as the trio had no pass issued by EC.
Following this, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is also Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar, has won unopposed in Rantau seat. --Reporting by IRWAN SHAFRIZAN ISMAIL, SUHAILA SHAHRUL ANNUAR and NOOR ATIQAH SULAIMAN