EC: Tian Chua can file petition with courts on his disqualification
Saturday, 28 Apr 20183:57 PM MYT
by hemananthani sivanandam and rashvinjeet s. bedi
Tian Chua. -Starpic
PUTRAJAYA: Rejected Batu PKR candidate Tian Chua can file a petition with the courts to decide on his disqualification, said the Election Commission.
Its chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah said the decision to disqualify the PKR vice-president was done by the area's Returning Officer (RO).
“Let it be brought to court and let them decide. We will abide by the court's ruling,” said Mohd Hashim in a press conference on Saturday (April 28).
He added that it is premature to rule out that Tian Chua will be completely disqualified from contesting in GE14.
“We don't know the court's decision yet, it depends on what is decided there, on when the hearing can be done and the verdict by the court. We will just abide by it,” he said.
Tian Chua was disqualified from contesting the Batu parliamentary seat on the grounds of his RM2,000 fine imposed by the Shah Alam High Court.
The decision was made by RO Anwar Mohd Zain.
When asked about PKR candidate Dr Streram Sinnasamy, who was denied entry into Dewan Sri Rembau to submit his nomination papers for the Rantau state seat, Mohd Hashim said he is waiting for the report.
He said he needs to get the report from the RO, adding he cannot comment on mere allegations.
“If they are unhappy, they can also submit a petition,” he said.
Dr Streram was not allowed into the nomination centre as he did not have a candidate pass issued by the EC. His proposer and seconder were also not allowed to enter as neither had EC passes.
Meanwhile, Mohd Hashim said in total, 11 individuals were disqualified from contesting due to various reasons.
He also said that after the nomination period ended at 10am, a total of 1,984 nomination papers were submitted.
However this figure does not include Sabah candidates as the EC was still in the midst of compiling the information.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/04/28/ec-tian-chua-can-file-petition-with-courts-on-his-disqualification/#2gsKeh7SYOkfDQGV.99
