THE government will not set new conditions for candidates, including those with pending court cases, in the next general election, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said today.

According to Wan Junaidi, in order to uphold democracy, there was no need to add new conditions to bar anyone from contesting.

“For example, enacting laws that say individuals with ongoing court cases are not eligible to contest,” he said in a statement today, after PAS Dewan Ulama head Ahmad Yahya made the suggestion over the weekend during the party’s annual general assembly.

Wan Junaidi said current conditions for nominating candidates, as stated in Article 48(1)(e) of the Federal Constitution, were sufficient.

The article states that any individual will be disqualified if he is found guilty and is sentenced to imprisonment for a period of not less than one year or a fine not less than RM2,000, and does not receive a pardon.

Based on this, Wan Junaidi said there was no need for additional clauses to tighten existing nomination conditions.

“If it is added, it will bring us back to the 1990s when the nomination process was complicated.

“It is reasonable for us to refer to existing laws, which are indeed complete and sufficient for the election candidate nomination process,” he said.

Wan Junaidi said existing MPs found guilty of any crime will have to quit unless they receive a royal pardon.

Former prime minister Najib Razak, who last month began a 12-year prison sentence for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds, has applied for a royal pardon, according to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun.

Azhar said the Pekan MP will retain his seat until the king makes a decision. – September 6, 2022.