DAP strategist Liew Chin Tong’s election petition to challenge the results of the Ayer Hitam federal seat will also focus on other alleged breaches of election law throughout the campaign period, his lawyer, Yeoh Yang Poh, said today.

Liew had contested and lost to MCA deputy president Dr Wee Ka Siong by 303 votes but Yeoh said in addition to the conduct of the election officers during vote counting, there had been other breaches of election law.

“Our focus is on the conduct of the election during the entire campaign period and not just what happened on polling day,” Yeoh said at the Johor Baru court today. 

“During the campaign period, there were several breaches of regulations. We are asking the court to examine these breaches and give its view on whether the results can be reviewed and for a fresh election.” 

Yeoh, a former Malaysian Bar president, said Liew wanted to ensure there were sufficient grounds for filing a petition and not to “file for the sake of filing”. 

“After studying the matter, I have found that there are sufficient grounds. Both of us share the view that the process is important and through this petition, we hope that the court will give its opinion, which will then guide how future elections are conducted.”

Liew named Wee, the Ayer Hitam returning officer and the Election Commission as respondents.

Liew’s election agent reportedly told Channel News Asia on May 10 that his request for a vote recount had been turned down during the counting process.

He garnered 16,773 votes while Wee retained the federal seat with 17,076 votes. PAS candidate Mardi Marwan secured 4,975 votes. – June 12, 2018.