THE Election Commission has reiterated that it cannot act against allegations of power abuse during any election. 

Its chairman, Azhar Azizan Harun, said it is the courts that can take any action. 

“I have been saying since day one in Port Dickson by-Election, what I say is irrelevant, I am neither judge nor jury, there’s no process for me to investigate,” he told reporters after checking on early voting for the Rantau by-election at the police station today. 

Azhar said the public had the power to act on election offences as they can report it to the authorities. 

Azhar was commenting on a statement by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who had hinted while campaigning in Kuala Sawah on Saturday that the East Coast Rail Link may be rerouted through Negri Sembilan.

Lim said this hinges on negotiations between Daim Zainuddin and Beijing and whether they can cut the ECRL cost to RM36 billion. 

Azhar said Lim may have to justify that his statement was made not just to canvass support for the by-election as he is a government representative. 

“That person will also have to justify that the announcement was for the overall good of the state, and not solely for the Rantau folk,” he said.

He said that he did not want to comment further to influence voters. 

“I can only advise candidates not to abuse their power,” he said. 

The Rantau by-election will be held on April 13. It will see a four-cornered contest between Pakatan Harapan’s Dr S. Streram, former Negri Sembilan menteri besar and acting Umno president Mohamad Hasan and two independent candidates – R. Malarvizhi and Mohd Nor Yassin. – April 9, 2019.