Peter Anthony claims 'hidden hands' behind Tenom candidacy rejection

GE15 | Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM) president Peter Anthony - whose nomination for Tenom parliamentary seat was rejected this morning - will challenge the Election Commission’s decision in court on Monday.

Speaking to reporters in Tenom, the Melalap state assemblyperson alleged that there were "hidden hands" behind EC's rejection of his nomination.

Peter claimed that the EC returning officer (RO) in charge of Tenom had already accepted his nomination and announced him as one of the six candidates but backtracked the decision later after receiving an objection from the commission's headquarters.

"We have followed all the procedures required, and they (EC) have checked all our documents. Then they informed me that all my documents were in order and complete.

"After completing the checks and screening process, all candidates were asked to draw a number and the RO then made an announcement that six candidates will be contesting in Tenom.

"We were then asked to head outside the hall for another announcement, but unfortunately, while we were heading, out the RO informed me that they received an objection from EC headquarters against my nomination," he said during the presser, which Malaysiakini obtained audio recording via media fraternity in Sabah.

Riot broke out

Peter was speaking about the riot that happened outside the Tenom nomination centre at Dewan Datuk Seri Panglima Antanom, which involved supporters of PKDM.

The incident saw police having to fire tear gas to control the situation.

According to Peter, who was formerly with Warisan before forming PKDM, he had told the RO that the time period for the objection against nominees was already over and he had already been accepted as a candidate.

"However, the officer informed me that Sabah EC has no issue with my nomination, only the headquarters.

"So, this is what happened earlier today. And on my part, I will be filing for a judicial review in court this Monday to get a decision on whether I am eligible to contest or not," he said.

On his criminal conviction in May, where the politician was found guilty of falsifying documents, sentenced to three years in jail, and fined RM50,000, Peter argued that he was still in the appeal process and thus can contest the election.

He said there was a stay order on his conviction, and thus not a convict yet, Peter claimed.

During the presser, Peter also apologised for the riot incident involving his supporters, saying that they did that out of being upset over the rejection.

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