Tuesday, May 1, 2018

'Stage drama' to show Indian barred from nomination centre, says caretaker MB


GE14 | Caretaker Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hassan has accused Pakatan Harapan of creating a “stage drama” targetted at Indian voters.
He was responding to PKR candidate Dr S Streram not being allowed to enter the nomination centre last Saturday for not wearing the Election Commission (EC) tag, resulting in Mohamad winning the Rantau state seat uncontested.
Speaking to Umno Online, the BN leader said Indian voters made up 27 percent of the electorate in Rantau.
He accused the opposition of exploiting the issue to incite Indian voters both in Ranau and nationwide.
“They made it (the issue) viral to show how Umno and BN did not allow an Indian candidate to enter (the nomination centre), when in fact, they don't know that the candidate did not have a pass
“People would only see an Indian not allowed. This is their dirty tactic. (Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) wore a pass, (caretaker prime minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) wore a pass.
“My wife who accompanied me could not enter (the nomination centre). I arrived 20 minutes early, and I was not allowed to stand in the shade next to the hall because it was not time (for the nomination process).
“To me this is just 'stage drama' to belittle and show how malicious BN is to the people and voters for not allowing an Indian candidate to enter. This is slander and they are good in this,” he added.
Mohamad pointed out that during elections, it is the EC which decides, and dismissed allegations that he had conspired with the commission to prevent Streram (photo) from entering the nomination centre.
The caretaker menteri besar said he was equally puzzled as to why the PKR candidate did not take his tag.
Mohamad also claimed that he was eager to contest in the election and was prepared to face his challenger.
“He (the PKR candidate) was chased out when he entered my kampung, 'dia tidak laku', not accepted by the people. So don't make unwarranted allegations,” he added.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that Streram had sent a letter of demand to the EC.
He gave the commission until 5pm Wednesday to rectify the nomination day fiasco of not registering him as a candidate, failing which a petition on the tort of misfeasance in public office would be filed in court.
In addition, Streram also lodged two police reports against the returning officer and the EC under Section 124B and 124C of the Penal Code for disrupting the process of parliamentary democracy by not allowing him to be a candidate in Rantau.
His lawyer Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla said not wearing an EC tag does not warrant a disqualification. -Mkini

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.