Dr Wee asks if EC set dates for Tanjung Piai by-election in favour of Pakatan

PETALING JAYA: Questions have been raised as to whether the Election Commission (EC) has strategically set the Tanjung Piai by-election dates in favour of Pakatan Harapan.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the upcoming by-election had the longest period between the EC meeting and nomination date, compared with previous by-elections.

“The ‘waiting period’ for the Tanjung Piai by-election is 32 days, the longest period for a by-election since the May 9 general election last year.

“Does it mean that the ‘waiting period’ for a by-election is longer when Pakatan Harapan is at a disadvantage?

“Is the EC delaying the by-election for 32 days in conjunction with the 2020 Budget, the report on the UEC (Unified Examination Certificate) and the reopening of the Kukup International Ferry Terminal?” he said in a post on Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday (Oct 2).

The Ayer Hitam MP also posted a picture of the number of days between previous by-election nominations and the EC meetings held to set their dates.

In the Port Dickson, Seri Setia, Sungai Kandis, Balakong and Sandakan by-elections, which Pakatan had won, the period was set at nine, 10,12,19 and 22 days, respectively.

Other by-elections, which were won by Barisan Nasional, had a delay of at least 24 days, including Cameron Highlands (24), Rantau (24) and Semenyih (29).

Dr Wee said EC chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun’s explanation that the date was chosen to avoid the public holiday was not valid, as there were previous by-elections or general elections that were held nearing the holidays.

He also took note that the Tanjung Piai nomination date (Nov 2) coincided with MCA’s annual general meeting, and that its polling day (Nov 16) coincided with Umno’s annual general meeting.