Mahathir regrets Tian Chua's disqualification

LANGKAWI: Langkawi parliamentary candidate Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad has expressed regret over the disqualification of Pakatan Harapan's (PH) candidate in the Rantau state seat.
He also expressed frustration with the disqualification of incumbent Batu MP Tian Chua.
Despite these setbacks, the PH chairman remained bullish on the opposition coalition's chances.
Mahathir was speaking to the media at a wedding reception at a hotel here.
Earlier today, PKR candidate Dr S. Streram could not submit his nomination papers at the Dewan Seri Rembau nomination centre because he had failed to bring along the candidate pass to enter the centre as required by the EC.
Subsequently, returning officer Amino Agos Suyub declared incumbent Negri Semblilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan as the winner of the seat he has held since 2004.
The former premier also stressed that it would have been a waste of time for him to lodge a police report over the sabotage attempt on his chartered plane to Langkawi.
Yesterday, Mahathir claimed that the plane, which was supposed to fly him to Langkawi to attend a tea reception with the Chinese and Indian communities on the island, had been sabotaged by certain quarters.
It was reported that the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman had boarded the plane to Langkawi at Subang and was informed by the pilot that one of the aircraft tyres had a puncture.
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has ordered an investigation into the matter.