Court throws out polls petitions against Zahid

The New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi retained his Bagan Datoh constituency when the Election Court yesterday dismissed election petitions by PKR candidate Madhi Hasan and voter Azmi Sulaiman.

Judge Datuk Hasnah Mohammed Hashim ruled that the court agreed with the preliminary objection raised by Zahid that the petitioners' allegations of electoral corruption against him were not supported by sufficient facts.

"There cannot be mere conjecture. The petitioners must be able to state the facts (supporting the allegations) clearly."

Hasnah cited the example of Madhi failing to prove that there was a nexus between Zahid and one R. Supramaniam, who allegedly gave RM100 and five bags of rice to influence a Bagan Datoh voter named Mustofa Saifudin.

In prior proceedings, Madhi had argued that the illegal practice by Supramaniam, who he alleged was Zahid's agent, took place on April 19 last year, a day before nomination day.

On Azmi's allegation that Zahid gave money and rice to 24,000 Barisan Nasional party workers to ensure his electoral victory, Hasnah said Azmi had failed to identify any of the party workers involved.

After Hasnah dismissed both petitions, she ordered Madhi and Azmi to each pay RM25,000 in costs to Zahid.

Madhi said he would discuss with his lawyer on whether to file an appeal.