Up to Umno who to field in Rantau by-election, says Mohamad Hassan

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hassan.

PETALING JAYA: Umno deputy president Mohamad Hassan says he is leaving it to the party to decide whether he will contest in the by-election for the Rantau state seat following the court decision to allow the petition filed by PKR candidate Dr Streram Sinnasamy.

“I accept the decision made by the court,” he told FMT.

In making the ruling today, judge Azimah Omar had said Mohamad was not duly elected. She also said there was ample evidence to show that Streram, his proposer and seconder were denied entry to the nomination centre, calling this an act of suppression.

Streram filed the petition on May 23 to nullify the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to declare Mohamad the winner of the Rantau seat.

He said he was never informed by the EC or its agents that name tags or entry passes were required to gain access to the Dewan Sri Rembau nomination centre.

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun welcomed the court decision, saying there would be no need for a by-election if everything had been done properly in the first place.

“If everything was in line with the rules, I don’t think it would have led to another by-election,” he added.

He said however that the court decision was good news as it meant democracy could be restored.

“I think Pakatan Harapan (PH) will choose a candidate who will ensure a feasible by-election,” he said.

Noting that Rantau originally belonged to PKR, he said he did not believe other PH component parties would ask to contest for the seat.

“We were prepared from the beginning, when it was predicted that there would be another by-election.

“I don’t think there will be confusion from the component parties in PH over who to contest for the seat.”

Bersih 2.0 chairman Thomas Fann likewise welcomed the court’s decision to allow a fresh election for Rantau, saying it was only fair.

He said it would send a message to the future returning officer that he or she needed to abide by the EC’s regulations.

“It is a sign for any returning officer not to hinder eligible candidates from contesting,” he said. - FMT