ANAESTHETIST Dr Streram Sinnasamy is ready to again contest the Rantau state seat after the Seremban Election Court ruled in his favour and declared the seat vacant.

The Rembau PKR deputy chief was disqualified from the 14th general election after returning officer Amino Agus Suyub refused to accept his nomination papers.

The seat was won uncontested by Umno deputy president and former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Mohamad Hasan.

The 63-year old Streram said he was confident that Pakatan Harapan would pick him as a candidate for the fresh vote as he has been the Rantau assembly coordinator and enjoyed a good relationship with current Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun.

“I will contest. I have already discussed with the MB. I have to inform the top (PKR) leadership tomorrow after our congress.

“I have been doing work in Rantau for over two and a half years. I have been appointed as the state seat coordinator,” Streram told The Malaysian Insight.

He said voters in Rantau were familiar with him as he has done various community outreach programmes.

The Rantau state seat has more than 20,000 voters, made up of Malays (50%), Indians (27%), Chinese (19%) and others (1%).

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has announced that Mohamad will be contesting again in Rantau.

Dr Streram brushed off Mohamad’s chances of winning the seat, saying that Umno is currently in “a bad state”.

“It does not really matter if he (Mohamad) contests.

“Even at that time (before the general elections) he was MB, but I thought I could win,” he said.

“Now, since the state and federal government are with PH my chances are very much higher.”

This will be the fifth by-election since the general election.

Streram said he felt vindicated when the judge read out the ruling this morning.

“The public should not be taken for granted. The rule of law should always apply,” he said.

After proceedings today, Mohamad told reporters that he will consult his lawyers on the next course of action.

The Umno deputy president can still file an appeal at the Federal Court.

Last month, the same court had sentenced Amino to three months’ jail for contempt of court after he was found guilty of coaching a witness on how to testify in the trial. – November 16, 2018.