PAS TO SIT OUT RANTAU
Party will support Mohamad, says sec-gen
PAS will support former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan should a by-election be held in Rantau. Pas secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the support for Mohamad, who is Umno deputy president, would either be in the form of votes or machinery.
“Pas has decided to support Mohamad in his efforts to defend the Rantau state seat if the Election Commission (EC) announces a by-election.
“If he needs our machinery, we will send the group there,” Takiyuddin told the New Straits Times Press yesterday.
Takiyuddin, who is Kota Baru member of parliament, said Pas would not contest the state seat and would make way for Umno.
He said Rantau was known as Mohamad’s seat, which was why Pas did not field a candidate in the 14th General Election (GE14).
He was commenting on a decision by the Special Election Court in Seremban on Friday declaring that Mohamad’s unopposed victory in the Rantau state seat in GE14 was null and void.
This means a by-election could be held in Rantau.
The ruling was handed down after judge Datuk Azimah Omar heard arguments from the petitioner, Dr S. Streram’s lawyers, as well as lawyers for Mohamad, the first respondent, over 12 days.
Dr Streram filed a petition on May 23, naming Mohamad, also known as Tok Mat, as the first respondent, EC returning officer Amino Agus Suyub as the second respondent and the commission as the third respondent.
Amino Agus allegedly refused to allow Dr Streram into the nomination centre on April 28 because he did not have a valid pass issued by the EC.
Mohamad has 14 days from the date of the ruling to file an appeal.