Saturday 20 Apr 2024
By
main news image

(April 29) Tian Chua, whose nomination to contest in GE14 was rejected by the Election Commission has got a, for want of a better description, unlikely supporter – the commission’s former deputy chairman Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

As Wan Ahmad sees it, the PKR vice president ought to have been allowed to contest based on the court decision which saw Tian Chua contesting GE 13 on May 5, 2013 when he succeeded in defending the federal territory parliamentary seat of Batu.

Wan Ahmad was commenting on Tian Chua’s disqualification on “live” television  talk show by Bernama News Channel – Ruang Bicara – hosted by Datuk Dahlan Maamor.

The show was aired on April 28 i.e. nomination day for GE 14 and Dahlan posted on Facebook part of his conversation with Wan Ahmad.

According to Dahlan, the former EC deputy chairman said the returning officer’s interpretation of the RM2000 fine imposed on Tian Chua has resulted in the PKR leader’s disqualification as a GE 14 candidate. (Tian Chua was originally fined RM3000 by the Shah Alam Sessions Court for insulting a policeman. He filed an appeal and the Shah Alam High Court reduced the fine to RM2000) and therefore this is something the court would have to decide. In the event Tian Chua files an election petition that is. Which he will, if he has not done so already.

And in the event the court decides in his favour, the result of the Batu contest in GE 14 will be null and void. Hence a by-election will have to be held. That’s how Wan Ahmad views it.

Several lawyers are already expressing the opinion that  Tian Chua has got solid grounds to take his predicament to court.

But needless to say and also based on what Wan Ahmad had said, Tian Chua’s day in court will only come after GE 14, what with the election just days away. Still one can never tell.

Wan Ahmad was also asked to comment on the Negeri Sembilan state seat of Rantau.

As we know, Dr. Streram Sinnasamy from PKR was refused entry into  the nomination centre as he was without an EC-issued pass. So too were his proposer and seconder.

The confusion , ensuing commotion and subsequent delay resulted in his nomination papers not accepted by the returning officer who went on to declare Negeri Sembilan caretaker menter ibesar Datuk Mohamad Hassan the winner unopposed – being the sole  candidate for the Rantau contest.

It’s rather strange (at least to me) that no other candidates wanted to contest Rembau – be they independents or from Pas. I say strange because for GE 14, multi -cornered fights seem to the norm and straight fights rare.  If they do happen at all.

Anyway back to Streram. According to Dahlan from what Wan Ahmad told him during the Ruang Bicara interview,  “ an EC pass to gain entry into the EC premises is not a prerequisite or condition for a nomination to be accepted”.

The pass is for security purposes and has got nothing to do with requirements  for nomination.

In all probability this case will go to court too ( if a petition is filed ) and should the court decide in Streram’s favour the Rembau seat too will have to be declared  void.

Hence a poser by Dahlan: what will be Mohamad Hassan’s status, assuming  that the BN succeeded in forming the Negeri Sembilan state government and he is the menteri besar?

If I may add – Negeri Sembilan will be “menteri besar-less” ( if there’s such a word?) . At least until the by election is concluded

      Print
      Text Size
      Share