PETALING JAYA: A partially blind retiree has pledged to continue championing the plight of people with special needs, although he is disappointed at not being able to contest the general election.
Habib Bourgiba Abdul Hamid, 53, had intended to contest as an independent candidate for Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur.
However, he reached the nomination centre two minutes after the deadline and was refused permission to file his papers. Habib said he would respect the Election Commission’s decision but expressed disappointment that the EC did not use its discretion to allow him to register as he was already in the vicinity.
“There is a lack of representation of people with disabilities (in Parliament), which is why I had hoped to contest. The issues I would have liked to focus on are (the plight of) orphans and persons with disabilities,” he told FMT.
Habib said it had become the norm for politicians and MPs to be “all talk and no action”, adding that elected representatives must put aside self-interest for the sake of the people.
Habib said he faced “obstacles” in reaching the nomination centre at SMK Aminuddin Baki, which accounted for his delayed arrival.
Police are currently probing Habib’s claim for statements conducive to public mischief.
The general election will feature a candidate who suffers from spinal bifida, Dr Noraishah Mydin, contesting the Putrajaya parliamentary seat for Pakatan Harapan against five other candidates. - FMT
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