BENTONG: Terengganu Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said welcomes the Terengganu Election Court ruling today to nullify Che Alias Hamid's victory in the Kemaman parliamentary seat during the 15th General Election (GE15) last year.

The former menteri besar said the court's decision clearly proves that bribery was involved in determining the GE15 outcome which had been in favour of Pas.

"Perikatan Nasional's victory at all eight parliamentary seats the coalition contested in GE15 and even the recent 32-0 win during the state polls could be linked with corruption or else how could the coalition secure such a huge victory.

"I spoke to my lawyer about the possibility of filing election petitions to challenge the recent state election results, but we are facing challenges to provide strong evidence," he said when contacted.

Ahmad said he was also perplexed how the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) had allowed Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim to recontest in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election on Aug 12 despite the Terengganu Election Court nullifying his victory on June 27 following elements of corruption during the GE15 campaign.

"Candidates whose election results have been nullified should be suspended and not be allowed to contest in the elections," he said.

On the possibility of him contesting in Kemaman in the by-election, Ahmad said he left the candidate decision in the hands of the party's top leadership and will abide by it.

The Terengganu Election Court today annulled the victory of Che Alias, who represented Pas in GE15 after finding elements of bribery at several official state government events through the i-Belia and i-Siswa assistance funds that were distributed to voters during the GE15 campaign period.

In GE15, Che Alias won the seat with a 27,179 vote majority beating Ahmad, PKR's Hasuni Sudin and Pejuang's Rosli Ab. Ghani.

On June 27, the Terengganu election court declared Ahmad Amzad's win in GE15 as null and void after ruling that the petitioner had succeeded in proving that there were elements of corruption involved during the GE15 campaign.

Meanwhile, Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man could not be reached for comments on the matter.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/09/959964/court-ruling-much-awaited-proves-corruption-existed-during-ge15-says