‘Rallies, protests won’t change GE13 results’
Election Commission chief Abdul Aziz Yusof claimed only an Election Court decision declaring the election result “null and void” could alter the polls outcome.
(FMT) – Protests or rallies will not be able to change the result of 13th general election (GE13) or cause it to be held again, said Election Commission chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf in a radio interview yesterday.
He said the available option for unhappy candidate is to apply for a review of the result by making a petition after the result is gazetted in accordance with the law.
“After the result is gazetted, he has 21 days to file a petition and if there is proof and the judge admitted the existence of corruption, fraud or illegal acts, the Election Court judge will declare the election result invalid.
“Only then a re-election will be called. A rally such as the one tonight (Pakatan rally last night) will not change anything,” he said when interviewed by Radio24 yesterday.
Pakatan Rakyat held the rally at Kelana Jaya Stadium last night to show their dissatisfaction with the result of GE13 held on Sunday.
Abdul Aziz said despite issues such as indelible ink, phantom voters and power blackout, GE13 was clean and orderly and the EC was not involved in helping any party to win.
“I would say that GE13 was fair. The winner did not receive EC’s help while the loser was not because EC did not help. The votes of registered voters determined the winner and the loser.”
Based on EC records, the highest number of petitions on GE results were 40 in 1999, 30 in 2004 and 26 in 2008, despite the ‘tsunami’ unfavourable to Barisan Nasional (BN).