Streram is top choice for Rantau

Negri PKR to propose him as candidate if by-election is called

SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan PKR will propose Dr S. Streram (pic) as its top choice if a by-election is called in Rantau.

Mentri Besar Aminuddin Harun said Dr Streram will be the state PKR’s first choice as he had fought tirelessly to annul the election of Barisan Nasional’s

Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan who won the seat unopposed on nomination day in the 14th General Election.

“We will give two or three names but Dr Streram will be our main man because he has been involved in the court case to annul Mohamad’s win from the very start.

“It was due to his work and commitment that we managed to get the Election Court to decide in our favour last week.

“We would be doing him a disservice if we do not propose his name,” he said.

Dr Streram was the party’s candidate for the May 9 elections but he was disqualified after he was barred from entering the nomination centre for not having a valid pass issued by the Election Commission (EC).

Mohamad was then declared winner of the seat.

Dr Streram filed a petition on May 23, naming Mohamad as the first respondent, EC returning officer Amino Agus as the second and the EC, the third.

In his election petition, Dr Streram sought for a by-election to be held for the Rantau seat as its incumbent had not won the seat legitimately.

On Nov 16, the Special Election Court here ruled Mohamad’s election as null and void.

The court said no election rule states that an electoral candidate, proposer and seconder should have a tag or pass to submit the nomination form.

After the court ruling, EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said the Rantau by-election would be held if no appeals were filed at the Federal Court within 14 days beginning Nov 16, or once the appeals process was completed at the court.

Asked if Dr Streram was a winnable candidate, Aminuddin said he has the potential as he has been working tirelessly in the constituency.

Asked on calls by several party leaders that a woman should be fielded this time as PKR did not field any in the state in the last general election, Aminuddin said a few names were proposed then, too, but these were not approved by the leadership.

“Then, we fielded candidates who had a good chance of winning and they happened to be men.

“I admit that we have many women candidates with potential and we have actually made them coordinators for some of the constituencies as well as ‘ ketua kampung’ after we won,” he said.

Aminuddin said the final decision on who the party would field in Rantau rested with the leadership.