PETALING JAYA, April 30 — It has never been legally required for election candidates to possess a candidate pass to be admitted into the nomination centre, a lawyer said today.

Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who is acting on behalf of Rantau PKR’s candidate Dr Streram Sinnasamy said that pass is meant to facilitate the process at nomination centres in order to avoid complications.

Mohamad Haniff said that it was wrong for the Election Commission and the Returning Officer in charge on Nomination Day to deny Dr Streram entry just because he did not have the candidate pass with him.

"Under Section 124 (B) and (C) of the Penal Code, it is a crime to interfere with the course of parliamentary democracy. If there was bad faith in the manner in which he was refused entry, this would be a case for the police to investigate,” Mohamad Haniff told a press conference here.

Haniff explained that Dr Streram was never told about the pass when he presented himself at the EC office in Seremban on April 25 to pay the election deposit.

"After paying, Dr Streram asked if there was anything else he should know. But nobody said anything,” he said.

"We are giving them a chance to explain themselves, and hopefully move to rectify the issue. However if the EC does not respond before or by 5pm on Wednesday, Dr Streram has advised to take the necessary steps.

"This would include a civil action pertaining to the thought of malfeasance on the public office, by EC officers,” he told reporters.

Additionally, Mohamad Haniff said Dr Streram could also file an election petition later on to challenge the Rantau election results.

Due to his disqualification on Nomination Day, the seat was won unopposed by caretaker Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.