KUALA LUMPUR: PKR deputy president hopeful Mohd Rafizi Ramli has denied claims he would contest the Rantau state seat which was declared vacant by the Special Election Court today.
Instead, he insisted that Dr S Streram, who was denied the opportunity to contest the seat in the 14th General Election (GE14), should be the candidate of choice should a by-election be called for Rantau.
"The Rantau seat belongs to Dr S Streram who was a victim. I do not intend to contest for any positions in the near future," he said as reported by online newsportal Malay Mail, today.
The former Pandan MP did not contest in GE14 after he was found guilty under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) for exposing a page of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) audit report.
Earlier this year, he was also sentenced to 30 months' jail by the Sessions Court for exposing the bank account details related to National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC) and its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail under Sections 97(1) and 112(1)(c) of the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (Bafia).
On a separate matter, Rafizi denied speculation he would be replacing Amiruddin Harun as Negri Sembilan menteri besar, insisting they were close friends.
The Rantau state seat could see a by-election after the Special Election Court today declared Umno's Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan's unopposed win as null and void.
Mohamad has 14 days to file an appeal.