UMNO deputy president Mohamad Hasan will announce tomorrow the party’s decision on whether or not to appeal a court ruling declaring his election victory in the Rantau state seat as invalid.

“I will announce it on Thursday morning in Seremban,” Mohamad told The Malaysian Insight.

On November 16, the election court ruled that the former Negri Sembilan menteri besar’s Rantau victory in the 14th general election was invalid and ordered an immediate by-election for the seat.

Judge Azimah Omar said the returning officer for the area had acted without ethics and integrity when he stopped PKR candidate Dr S. Streram from filing his nomination papers, thus paving the way for Mohamad to win the seat uncontested.

Umno would not appeal the ruling if the party manages to organise its election machinery in time for a by-election, said Mohamad.

Election Commission chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said a date for the by-election would only be set after the period for appeal has passed.

Friday is the deadline for Mohamad to lodge an appeal.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged Mohamad not to appeal against the ruling, saying that Rantau was a party fortress and unlikely to fall to Pakatan Harapan.

Mohamad has held the Rantau seat since the 11th general election in 2004. He successfully defended the seat in 2008 and 2013, defeating PKR candidates in all three elections. – November 28, 2018.