SEREMBAN: Incumbent Rantau assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (pix) has decided to appeal the decision of the Election Court, which ordered fresh elections to be held for the state seat.
The Umno Deputy President said the appeal to the Federal Court was filed today through his solicitors.
“The decision to appeal has been made after taking into account the grounds of judgment delivered orally by the Special Election Court judge on Nov 16,“ he said here today.
“The decision was also made to exonerate me from any alleged of misdoings or misconduct during the 14th General Election nomination day on April 28,“ said Mohamad.
On Nov 16, the Special Election Court here ruled that the unopposed election of Mohamad as the assemblyman in GE14 was null and void.
Mohamad won the seat unopposed after the PKR candidate Dr S. Streram was prohibited from entering the nomination centre on April 28 for not having a pass issued by the EC.
Following this, Streram filed a petition on May 23, seeking a by-election claiming that Mohamad’s election was not valid.
In his petition, he also claimed EC had failed to inform him when collecting the nomination form and making the deposit payment that he needed a name tag or pass to enter the nomination centre.
Streram had named Mohamad, the former Negri Sembilan mentri besar as the first respondent; Rembau parliamentary constituency returning officer Amino Agus Suyub as the second respondent and the EC as the third respondent.
The court also ruled that no election rule states that an electoral candidate, proposer and seconder should have a tag or pass to submit the nomination form.
On Wednesday, Election Commission chief Azhar Azizan Harun said it will appeal the decision.
“After studying the judge’s oral judgment, we have decided to appeal as there were several facts and findings presented which could have an effect on the EC, election workers and the running of elections in future.
“The appeal is not on the court’s decision to invalidate the result of the 14th general election for Rantau but how the judgment could affect the EC and election workers,“ he said in a statement.
