DRAMA IN THREE SEATS
Tian Chua’s nomination rejected, two others almost don’t make it
CANDIDATE nomination in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur saw early morning drama and shock yesterday. Mistakes led to one candidate’s nomination being rejected, while two other candidates had a close call. One of them forgot to bring her identity card and another misplaced his appointment letter.
The biggest shock was when PKR vice-president Tian Chua’s nomination papers for the Batu parliamentary seat were rejected by the returning officer due to a 2013 court case at the Shah Alam High Court.
Tian Chua, a two-term Batu member of parliament, said the court had reduced the fine imposed on him from RM3,000 to RM2,000.
With Tian Chua out of the contest, there will be a three-cornered fight between Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau (Barisan Nasional), Pas’ Azhar Yahya and independent P. Prabakaran.
In the Wangsa Maju parlimentary seat, PKR treasurer-general Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew had a close call.
She forgot to bring her identity card and was barred from entering the nomination centre at Dewan Wangsa Bestari, SMK Wangsa Melawati.
She sighed in relief after an Election Commission officer allowed her to enter the nomination centre after she produced a copy of her identity card.
Tan, who was Klang member of parliament from 1995 to 2008, had another close call when she submitted her nomination papers one minute after the 10am deadline.
This led to protests from candidates Datuk Yew Teong Look (BN) and Razali Tumirin (Pas). Despite the protests, Tan’s submission was allowed.
At the Bandar Tun Razak parliement seat, BN candidate Adnan Seman’s heart must have stopped for a moment when he forgot to attach his appointment letter when submitting his nomination papers. He found the letter 20 minutes before the deadline.
Adnan, a new face, will lock horns with PKR’s Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar and Pas’ Dr Rosni Adam.