DR Streram Sinnasamy has gotten PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s backing to contest the Rantau by-election.

Anwar told the party congress today that Dr Streram deserves to run as he was the one who filed an election petition over the state seat.

“Dr Streram was denied his right to contest by Election Commission officials (in the 14th general election). After he was denied that right, he challenged it, and he won the case. It is difficult to brush that aside,” Anwar said in his first speech as PKR president.

There have been calls for the party to field either a Malay or woman candidate.

Anwar said the Negri Sembilan constituency has a high number of Indians, and it is fitting that an Indian candidate be fielded.

“In Rantau, Indians make up the highest number of voters. It is among the highest in the whole of Malaysia.

“I hope this matter will be taken into consideration by party leaders in Negri Sembilan and the political bureau.”

Rantau has more than 20,000 voters, comprising Malays (50%), Indians (27%), Chinese (19%) and others (1%).

On Friday, the election court ordered that a by-election be held for the seat after ruling that Barisan Nasional’s Mohamad Hasan is not the valid assemblyman.

Justice Azimah Omar held that PKR’s Dr Streram had been unfairly denied the opportunity to file his nomination by returning officer Amino Agos, who stopped him from entering the nomination centre on April 28.

As a result, Mohamad won Rantau uncontested. The former three-term Negri Sembilan menteri besar had held the seat since 2004.

Mohamad, who is Umno deputy president, has been given 14 days to file an appeal, failing which, the EC will set a date for the by-election.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has announced that Mohamad will stand in Rantau again. – November 18, 2018.