‘IT’S THEIR OWN FAULT’
Rejected candidates did not follow rules set by EC, say experts
NEGLIGENCE, technical problems and sheer carelessness. These were the reasons why several candidate hopefuls were left out of the race for parliamentary and state seats in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Academics and political analysts agreed that those whose nominations were rejected had only themselves to blame as such things would not have happened if they had followed the rules and regulations set out by the Election Commission (EC).
Universiti Putra Malaysia Communications Department senior lecturer Dr Syed Agil Syed Alsagoff said even though this was the 14th edition of the national elections, there were still those who did not understand the standard procedures and requirements.
“The easiest example involves the identification card.
“It happens in every general election, it seems, that a candidate forgets to bring along his MyKad during the nomination process.
“This is despite the fact that as Malaysian citizens, we are required to have our MyKad with us at all times... it doesn’t matter whether it is nomination day or not.
“This should not happen and it is a clear indication of the carelessness of the candidate and there is no need to blame the Election Commission,” he said in a programme at the New Straits Times Press Studio here.
The programme, hosted by NSTP journalist Mohd Nasaruddin Parzi, included Universiti Teknologi Mara Informational and Media Psywar Studies Centre fellow Dr Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin as a panel member.
Veteran DAP leader Dr Tan Seng Giaw called the “rookie” mistakes made by those candidates whose nominations were rejected as “careless”.
The former eight-term Kepong member of parliament said candidates should have been prepared before nomination day.
“When we want to be candidates, we cannot be negligent.
“This shows that they were not careful enough.
“Every candidate must have all their documents in order; ensure they have their MyKads, that the address is the correct one, that all the forms are in order and they have to ensure that they are eligible to stand, for instance, making sure they have not been declared bankrupt.
“If their nomination is rejected, they cannot blame EC.
“If they want to blame anyone, they need to provide evidence that the RO (returning officer) was wrong, or other reasons, because we have to ensure we follow the law.”
The duo were commenting on the 11 people whose nominations were rejected for various reasons on Saturday, including bankruptcy, forgetting to bring their MyKad and having an address that was out of state.
Tan said to avoid problems, every candidate should have a contingency plan, such as get-ting ready two sets of nomination forms, and even having two sets of proposers and seconders.
In Muar, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Razali Ibrahim, who is also Barisan Nasional Muar parliamentary seat candidate, said those who had intended to contest in GE14, or any election for that matter, were responsible for getting all requirements seen to before submitting their nomination forms.
He said those whose nominations were rejected should not point fingers at anyone but themselves.