Court invalidates Rantau GE14 results, orders by-election.
The Seremban Election Court today decided that the Rantau state seat in Negeri Sembilan is vacant, invalidating former menteri besar Mohamad Hasan’s win in the 14th general election and declaring that a new election be held immediately.
Justice Azimah Omar ruled there is no written law or requirement for a candidate, his seconder or proposer to have passes to enter the nomination centre.
Mohamad retained the seat without contest when his PKR challenger Dr Streram Sinnasamy was barred from filing his nomination papers, and hence, was disqualified.
The court today allowed Streram’s application that the Election Commission was wrong to deny him entry to file his nomination papers in the GE14.
“The court allows the election petition filed. Mohamad Hasan is not valid as Rantau assemblyman.
“The first respondent (Mohamad) was not chosen legally. There should be a by-election held in Rantau,” she said in the decision.
The returning officer also needs to pay Streram RM20,000 cost.
However, the case might be subjected to an appeal in the Federal Court before a by-election is called.
Streram said returning officer Amino Agos Suyub and the EC had breached their statutory duty under the Election Offences Act, and that the results must be nullified and a by-election held.
He said he paid the deposit of RM5,000 to register as a candidate and another RM3,000 for campaign material on April 25.
At no time did the EC inform him that name tags or entry passes were needed for the candidate and his representatives to enter the nomination hall on April 28.