Defeated PKR Hulu Selangor by-election candidate Zaid Ibrahim today filed a petition to invalidate the election result, claiming widespread bribery was perpetrated in his opponent’s campaign.

NONE The petition was filed on the grounds that the BN candidate P Kamalanathan had “directly or indirectly” known about offers made by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak during the campaign, to entice Hulu Selangor voters to cast their ballots for the ruling coalition.

"The petition is quite narrow in the sense that we are focusing on Najib’s promise of RM3 million (to the SRKJ (C) Rasa school) and the offers to Felda settlers," Zaid's lawyer, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, told a press conference in Zaid’s home in Petaling Jaya.

azlan The election petition was filed earlier today at the Shah Alam High Court.

The election petition was filed today at the Shah Alam High Court, and named Kamalanathan, the Election Commission and returning officer Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan as respondents.

"The petition must be disposed of within six months (of its filing). Such matters are often given priority as they affect the welfare of constituents, who are kept in limbo," Malik said.

He said that the decision regarding the petition will be made by way of a trial presided over a judge appointed by the Chief Justice.

Kamalanthan is expected to be represented by his personal lawyer, while the Attorney General is expected to represent the other two respondents, he added.

"While appreciating that Najib is the prime minister of the country, he is also BN chairperson and Umno president. In what capacity did he make these statements?

"Some will argue that the minister was not a candidate, so there is no corruption, but what was said was reported all over the media (so) it is a matter of law, not fact," he said.

NONE According to Azhar Harun ( right ), who is also acting on Zaid's behalf, this petition is an opportunity to "define the ambit and purview of Sections 32 (A) and 32 (C) of Election Offences Act 1954".

Section 32 (A) states that an offence has been made if "general bribery, general treating or general intimidation have so extensively prevailed that they may be reasonably supposed to have affected the results of the election."

Section 32 (C) states that an offence has occurred if "corrupt practice or illegal practice was committed in connection with the election by the candidate or with his knowledge or consent, or by any agent of the candidate".

‘Expect another by-election'

NONE While he is "fairly confident" of the petition, Malik (left in pix) , admitted that most similar petitions filed before did make it to a hearing because they get struck out on preliminary objections.

"We are hoping that all sides will see the value (of the petition heading to trial as the results) will be relevant for future elections," he said, adding that the respondents have yet to be served the petition.

But ever optimistic, Zaid told reporters to expect "another by-election at the end of the year", urging also the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission to look into the alleged offences.

"They said they will investigate (Najib's actions) in Sibu. If they do that, then they should also investigate (what happened in) Hulu Selangor," he said.

NONE Zaid, who is also Pakatan Rakyat coalition adviser, said the petition is only "chapter one" in the list of legal actions which he said he will undertake after losing the April by-election.

Chapter two and three, he said, will be a civil suit against the Election Commission and Utusan Malaysia .

"There is no time limit for the suit (against the EC) so I want to get this one done first," he said.

He added that he is taking the EC to task for allegedly violating its constitutional duty by allowing false information, intimidation and illegal election practices by the BN machinery.

Zaid, who is also a lawyer, said he is suing Utusan "for only a dollar" for publishing an article in which he was labeled " kaki botol " (alcoholic).

Also acting on Zaid's behalf are lawyers Gobind Singh Deo, Ang Hean Leng, Leong Sher-How and Sreekant M G Ganghadaran Pillai.

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