Tok Mat says EC officers stopped him from entering nomination centre

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has questioned the actions of Election Commission (EC) officers who stopped him from entering the nomination centre in Alor Gajah, Melaka.

He said party leaders had previously been informed during an EC briefing that passes would be issued to allow them to accompany candidates to the nomination centre.

"All party leaders were told they would be allowed into the nomination centre compound, but not the hall where the nomination process takes place. We were only allowed to rest under the tents outside.

"Suddenly, this morning, I was not allowed past the complex's entrance gate. If you are not going to let us in, why issue us passes?" he told a news portal.

Mohamad, better known as Tok Mat, was speaking after he was stopped from accompanying BN candidate for the Lendu state seat, Datuk Abu Hakim Abdul Wahid, to the nomination centre.

The incident also led to a verbal exchange between Mohamad and an EC officer, who insisted that only candidates' proposers and seconders were allowed to enter the nomination centre.

A total of 79 candidates from various parties are contesting in the 16th Melaka state election.

Of these, 24 are from Pakatan Harapan (PH), 23 from BN, 16 from Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama), seven from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), five from Perikatan Nasional (PN), one from Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) and three are independents.

The EC has set Nov 10 for early voting and Nov 14 for polling.