KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Peter Anthony is perplexed over why the Election Commission pulled back on his nominations despite approving his candidacy earlier.
The Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) chief said the returning officer (RO) had reviewed his nomination papers as well as supporting documents and found that everything was in order.
Subsequently, he added, he was even allowed to draw his candidate number, drawing No 1 in the process.
"And the returning officer (RO) had even made an official announcement in the nomination centre that all six candidates who were up on the stage will be contesting in the polls before we were told to exit the hall for the official announcement outside.
"Unfortunately, while on the way out, the RO notified me that there was an objection from the Election Commission headquarters (in Putrajaya)," he said to reporters after lodging a report over the matter at the Tenom police station on Saturday (Nov 5).
Anthony said he pointed out to the RO that the one-hour objection period from 9am had already expired.
"Why would they only inform me at the last minute, which was almost noon, there was an objection from the EC headquarters and the RO had to rescind on the earlier decision that was announced and reject my nominations?
"We asked why my nomination was rejected and they told me that the Sabah EC had no issue but just that their national headquarters had a problem with it," he said.
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Towards this end, the Melalap assemblyman said he would file a review of the decision entered during nomination day at the High Court on Monday (Nov 7) to check whether he was qualified to contest in the upcoming polls.
"This is because the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur had allowed my application for a stay (of his conviction and sentence in his forgery case) so that means I have not done anything wrong.
"All the necessary documents were given to the RO but they (the EC) did not accept them, as if I was a criminal or something but I will leave it to the court," Anthony said.
Earlier, supporters of KDM caused a commotion outside the nomination centre, forcing Light Strike Force personnel to fire tear gas at the crowd.
Comm Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali, Bukit Aman’s Internal Security and Public Order Department director, said the tear gas was fired to disperse the group.
He said the situation was later brought under control and no reports of injury were received so far.
Anthony apologised for any trouble caused after the episode at the nomination centre in Tenom.
"I would like to ask for forgiveness for any inconvenience or discomfort to any quarters during the nomination process.
"The supporters were doing their best to support me and there was some disturbance by them because they were upset with the EC’s decision to reject my nomination at the last minute," he said.
