An opposition leader has criticised a new election regulation allowing the withdrawal of candidates within three days of nomination as it would allow for electoral improprieties.

"DAP strongly opposes such an amendment as it will allow the unacceptable practice of candidate buying even after nomination day," said party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock.

The new rule would allow candidates to exclude their names from ballot papers although they would still have to forfeit their RM10,000 deposit to the Election Commission.

Kerk said the amendment is "illogical" and "unjustifiable" as it was made without prior consultation with opposition parties.

"The EC's explanation that the amendment is to respect the freedom of a candidate to change his mind cannot be accepted," he said in a press statement.

In cases where only two candidates are nominated for a constituency, the EC has included a legal provision in the regulations for fresh nominations to be call in the event of a pullout.

However, Kerk said this only reflected the irrationality of the amendment as fresh nominations would incur extra costs.

"Why should the EC made an amendment that will require political parties and the EC to spend time and money for fresh nominations simply because one candidate has decided to withdraw?" he questioned.

Cancel Parliament opening

Meanwhile, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang urged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to dissolve Parliament only after the 2003 master electoral role is gazetted.

According to him, election regulations require that the latest declared electoral role to be used in the event of a general election.

"It is clear that if the 2003 master electoral roll is declared after the dissolution of parliament, it could not be used for polling purposes," he said.

In addition, he said there is also the problem that the King would be required to officially open the new parliamentary session on March 8 - the same period that the government is expected to make its announcement to dissolve the house.

Lim said one solution to the problem would be for the prime minister to advise the King in advance that Parliament will be dissolved after the electoral role is gazetted, and therefore to cancel notification for the summoning of Parliament for its official opening schedule.

Although the government has not made any official announcement, nationwide polls are widely expected to be held by the third week of March.