Rantau seat gazetted, Streram to file suit

In a surprising twist to the development on the Rantau state seat in Negeri Sembilan, the Election Commission has gazetted the result that caretaker menteri besar Mohamad Hassan has won the seat uncontested.

This was revealed by lawyer Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla for PKR candidate Dr S Streram, saying he today received the letter on this from the EC, which was dated yesterday.

Haniff said it was very disheartening that the EC, which prides itself as the body to oversee just and fair elections, just rode roughshod over the whole letter of demand from Streram that was sent on Monday.

"There is total silence to the various requests, demands and clarifications sought in Dr Streram's letter, which was directed to both the EC in Seremban and its Putrajaya headquarters.

"We only received a mere static response from EC confirming the gazette notification of the Rantau state seat result. Hence, under the law, an election petition pursuant to Section 38(1) of the Election Offences Act 1953 should be filed within 21 days."

Haniff also revealed that the returning officer and EC should be prepared to face a misfeasance in public office suit as well as the election petition for breaches to Streram's constitutional right.

It is understood the suit will be filed next week.

Haniff said the EC’s actions meant that it had stolen the rights of the constituents of Rantau to elect their state representative.

On Monday, Streram sent a letter of demand giving the EC until 5pm on Wednesday for it to explain why he cannot be nominated.

Streram could not register himself as a candidate to contest against Mohamad as he was not allowed to enter the nomination centre because he did not possess the EC candidate pass.

Video clips showed that he was prevented to go into the nomination centre by the authorities following the returning officer's directive, resulting in Mohamad winning the state seat uncontested.

This action of the EC was also condemned by electoral group Bersih 2.0. - Mkini