EC bans Sivarraajh for five years

PETALING JAYA: The Election Commission (EC) has banned MIC vice-president Datuk C. Sivarraajh from participating in any election for the next five years, a ruling that sends Barisan Nasional scrambling for a substitution.

With the nomination for the Cameron Highland parliamentary seat just under two weeks away, Pahang Barisan says it will immediately discuss with the central leadership on the next course of action.

State Barisan chairman and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said Sivarraajh would be included in the discussion.

Sivarraajh have been heavily tipped as Barisan’s candidate for the seat.

EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun yesterday announced that Sivarraajh cannot become a candidate or a voter in any election for five years.

He said the decision was made after a careful study of the Election Court’s decision on Nov 30.

“After studying the decision and reports under Section 36(2)(a) and Section 37 of the Election Offences Act 1954, and also considering legal views under the Act, Sivarraajh cannot be registered or listed as a voter and cannot vote in any election for the next five years beginning Dec 13.

“He cannot become a candidate in any election,” he said in a statement.

Azhar Azizan said the EC took all necessary steps in accordance with the Act and existing election regulations in its decision.

Wan Rosdy believed the Barisan election machinery’s spirit would not fade with the turn of events and would instead burn greater.

“I also believe whatever decision taken by the central and state Barisan leadership, including Sivarraajh himself, will be accepted with an open heart by the party’s machinery.

“Then they will work harder to ensure Barisan’s victory in the Cameron Highlands by-election on Jan 26,” he added.

Sivarraajh won the seat with a 597-vote majority over four other candidates.

However, on June 4, DAP candidate M. Manogaran filed a petition to nullify the general election result, claiming that both Sivarraajh and Wan Rosdy, who is the Jelai assemblyman, had met nine village heads and gave them money to distribute between RM30 and RM1,000 each to the orang asli community.

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Justice Azizah Nawawi said the petitioner, Manogaran, had established beyond reasonable doubt that bribery was proven during the election.