SEREMBAN: Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the Election Commission (EC) appeared to have been influenced by Pakatan Harapan in its selection of dates for the Rantau by-election.
The Umno deputy president, who is defending the state seat he held for three terms since 2004, questioned why EC decided to hold the nomination process almost one month after its meeting on March 6.
"This shows PH really wants to win Rantau.... because we have won both Cameron Highlands and Semenyih recently. They want to curb our winning momentum.
"Usually, if EC was to meet this week, we can expect the nomination process to be held in one or two week's time.
"But EC has waited almost a month, to ensure that our momentum has either dropped or disappeared altogether.
"They (PH) want to secure Rantau not because it is a state seat but because they want to stop the rise of Umno and BN's influence.
"They have been saying that this man must go, 'Mat Hasan' is a no-no. If he survives, the 'wi' (spin) will be faster for BN to go against PH." said Mohamad at a 'ceramah' in Bandar Sri Sendayan, last night.
EC, after its meeting on March 6, has set the nomination date for Rantau by-election on March 30, followed by the polls on April 13.
The by-election had been triggered by the Federal Court's dismissal of an appeal filed by Mohamad to set aside the Nov 16 Seremban Election Court decision declaring his unopposed victory in the GE14 as null and void.
In the last general election, Mohamad was declared the winner of the seat after his potential Pakatan Harapan (PH) opponent, Dr S. Streram of PKR, was prevented from entering the nomination centre to submit his nomination papers because he did not have a pass issued by the EC.