SEREMBAN: Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, widely known as ‘Tok Mat’, has officially announced that he will defend the Rantau state seat in the April 13 by-election.
The former Negri Sembilan menteri besar made the disclosure at the launch of the MCA election machinery for the poll at a hall in Rantau, near here, on Friday night.
“We need the cooperation of a good election machinery, comprising Umno, MCA and MIC, to ensure victory for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the by-election,” said Mohamad, who is currently carrying out the duties of Umno president.
The event was launched by MCA president, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
In the 14th general election (GE14) last year, Mohamad won the seat unopposed on nomination day on April 28 after PKR’s Dr S. Streram was prevented from entering the nomination centre as he was allegedly lacking an Election Commission candidate pass.
On May 23, Dr Streram, who is PKR Rembau branch deputy head, filed a petition in court to seek a by-election, alleging that Mohamad was not duly elected.
On Jan 18, the Federal Court dismissed Mohamad’s appeal to overturn the decision of the Seremban Election Court on Nov 16, which declared his unopposed victory in the GE14 as null and void.