PKR’s candidate for Rantau, Dr Streram Sinnasamy, will sue the Election Commission for misfeasance in public office, after he was barred from entering the nomination centre last Saturday.

“The EC and the returning officer, God willing, had better be prepared to face a suit for misfeasance in public,” said his lawyer, Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla.

He said that Dr Streram would file an election petition for breaches of his constitutional right to stand as a candidate, as well as for “stealing away” the rights of the Rantau constituents to have a choice of state assemblyman.

Dr Streram was prevented from entering the nomination centre because he did not have a candidate’s entry pass issued by the EC, resulting in a walkover for the three-term incumbent, Barisan Nasional’s Negri Sembilan caretaker menteri besar Mohamad Hassan.

However, there is no law mandating such a pass for those wanting to file nominations.

Malaysia Decides sighted a letter Haniff received a letter from the EC today which stated that Mohamad had won uncontested.

Dr Streram’s suit is coming after the anaesthetist demanded that the EC rectify his nomination by yesterday evening.

“What Dr Streram received was merely a static response from the EC confirming the gazette notification of the N.27 Rantau state seat result.”

“It is very disheartening to note that the EC, which supposedly prides itself on overseeing just and fair elections in this country, rode roughshod over the whole letter of demand/explanation sent by Dr Streram,” said Haniff.

Haniff said there had been “total silence” to the various requests, demands, and clarifications sought within Dr Streram’s letter directed to both EC offices in Putrajaya as well as in Seremban.

Under the law, an election petition pursuant to Section 38(1) of the Election Offences Act 1953 can be filed within 21 days of such a gazette notification. – May 4, 2018.