Terengganu Umno files petition to cancel electoral results of 3 parliamentary seats

 

Terengganu Umno has filed a petition to annul the results of the Kuala Terengganu, Marang and Kemaman parliamentary contests during the 15th general election.

The petition was filed at the Kuala Terengganu High Court on Jan 3, in accordance with the Election Offences Act 1954.

Terengganu Umno chief Ahmad Said (above) said among the points raised in the petition were allegations that PAS had bribed voters by distributing financial aid from the state government through the i-Pension, i-Belia and i-Student initiatives between Nov 15 and 17, 2022, which was just a few days before GE15.

"This petition is being filed because they (PAS) gave (financial aid) a few days before GE15. The practice of money politics, regardless of the circumstances, is morally wrong," he said during a press conference at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said Terengganu Umno hoped that polls could be held again in the three areas, citing the Cameron Highlands by-election (PRK) in 2018 as a precedent.

Meanwhile, lawyer Amin Othman, who is representing the BN candidates in the three areas on behalf of Terengganu Umno, said the decision to file the petition was made after examining the evidence and witness statements.

"We have enough witnesses to sustain this petition, close to 20 of them aged around 18-20 in these three seats," he said.

In GE15, Ahmad, who represented BN, and three other candidates who contested for the Kemaman parliamentary seat, lost to PAS candidate Che Alias Hamid, who won with a majority of 27,179 votes.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang retained the Marang seat with a majority of 41,729 votes in a four-cornered contest, while the Kuala Terengganu seat was retained by Amzad Hashim (PAS) who obtained a majority of 40,907 votes, defeating three other candidates.

- Bernama