Tok Mat explains commotion at Melaka nomination centre

 The BN deputy chairman says the EC informed party leaders at a briefing they could enter the centres, just not the halls where nominations are held.

Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan questioned why he was barred from entering the nomination centre with the candidate when he had a pass issued by the EC. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan has sought to explain this morning’s commotion at a nomination centre in Alor Gajah for the Melaka election, after he was barred from entering the building.

Mohamad, also known as Tok Mat, said party leaders had been informed at an Election Commission briefing that passes would be issued for them to accompany candidates into the centres.

He said they were told that leaders could enter the centres but not the halls where nominations take place, and that they could rest under the canopies within the compound of the centres.

“All of a sudden, this morning, I wasn’t allowed to go past the gates of the complex. If you’re not going to allow us in, why issue passes to us?” he told FMT.

The Umno deputy president was left visibly frustrated after being barred from accompanying BN’s Lendu candidate, Abu Hakim Abdul Wahid, into the nomination centre.

Mohamad also got into a heated exchange with an EC officer, who maintained that only the candidate’s proposer and seconder could enter the centre, Utusan Malaysia reported. - FMT