EC: No withdrawals allowed - names will be on ballots
Candidates whose nominations have been registered can no longer withdraw from contesting the 13th general election.
Candidates whose nominations have been registered can no longer withdraw from contesting the 13th general election.
Election Commission deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar (right) said the provision in the Election Regulations 1981 that used to allow for such withdrawals has been abolished.
"Anyone who has been nominated, they will appear on the ballot papers and people will be allowed to vote for them," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.
While candidates are allowed to make declarations of withdrawal, as that is their "personal choice", the change will not be reflected in the ballot papers, he said.
"These are all internal party matters. As far as the law goes, this is final," he said.
Wan Ahmad's statement means that PKR and PAS representatives will ‘technically’ face one another in one parliamentary and six state seats across the country.
However, in a decision announced today, PAS will give up the Labuan parliamentary seat and the state seats of Sungai Acheh in Penang and Panti in Johor to PKR.
In return, PKR will give up three state seats in Terengganu to PAS - Bukit Besi, Seberang Takir and Kota Putera kepada PAS, according to PAS online organ Harakahdaily which quoted party president Abdul Hadi Awang.
The status of the Kota Damansara state seat is reportedly being discussed among PAS, PKR dan Dr Nasir Hashim of PSM.
Guarantee on ballot papers
Wan Ahmad expressed confidence that the glitches experienced during the nomination process two days ago will not affect polling on May 5.
"As far as candidates go, any announcement by the Returning Officer is final. There might be a few glitches on the website, but the final list is updated before we send them for printing of ballots," he said.
"I guarantee that, as far as the ballots go, we won't face any problems.”
Wan Ahmad warned that election observers accredited by the commission must adhere to the strict guidelines already outlined to them.
"In Selangor on nomination day, we had one overzealous observer who interviewed the officers inside the nomination centre while they were doing their job," he said, refusing to elaborate.
He also said that two people posing as observers had been caught at a nomination centre in Kelantan and later handed over to police.
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