Go-ahead for PKR man’s Rantau state seat petition
SEREMBAN: The Election Court here yesterday dismissed an application by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to strike out an election petition filed by PKR member Dr S. Streram to nullify the former’s win as Rantau assemblyman in the 14th General Election (GE).
Judge Datuk Azimah Omar made the decision after reviewing and considering affidavits and written submissions filed by both parties.
She said Mohamad, as the first respondent, had raised eight non-compliance petitioner’s petitions against the requirements of the Election Act 1954.
Azimah dismissed Mohamad’s application on grounds that the non-compliance generated by the first respondent had no merit and the reason did not justify the respondent’s move to cancel the petition.
On June 25, Mohamad filed the preliminary objection to strike out the election petition filed by Streram for the Rantau state seat under the Rembau parliamentary constituency.
Streram filed a petition on May 23 to nullify the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to declare Mohamad as the winner.
Mohamad, who was then Negri Sembilan menteri besar, won the seat unopposed after EC returning officer Amino Agos Suyub refused to allow Streram into the nomination centre as he did not have a valid pass issued by the commission.
Streram had named Mohamad as the first respondent and Amino Agos and the EC as the second and third respondents.
He had also sought an order compelling EC to hold a by-election for the seat.
Counsel for the second and third respondents withdrew their applications to strike out Streram’s petition during proceedings on Aug 8.
Azimah fixed Sept 12, 13, 14, 27, 28, Oct 1 and 2 to hear Streram’s petition. Mohamad was represented by a five-member legal team led by Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, while Streram’s four-member team was led by Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla.
Mohamad said he would request his legal team to file an appeal as soon as possible within the stipulated 14 days.
“I have strong basis for this. I don’t have anything to do with what happened to Streram. I can sit on the witness bench. I was only a candidate and was there to submit my nomination papers. After that, we waited at the hall until everything was settled.”
Hafarizam said his team had studied all eight objections raised in the petition and would present three witnesses.
Earlier, more than 100 people gathered at the court as early as 8am to show support for Mohamad and Streram.