Sabah polls: PH candidate for Silam to stay on ballot despite withdrawal, says EC

KOTA KINABALU: Pakatan Harapan’s Abdul Halim Sidek will remain on the ballot paper for the N.62 Silam seat despite announcing his withdrawal from the race, the Election Commission (EC) says.

In a statement on Tuesday (Nov 18), EC secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus said the commission had taken note of Halim’s announcement but clarified that election regulations do not allow a candidate to retract their nomination after 10am on Nomination Day.

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Under Regulation 9 of the Election (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981, no withdrawal is permitted once the nomination period closes.

"As such, the Pakatan Harapan candidate for N.62 Silam will remain on the ballot paper," he said.

Halim announced on Monday (Nov 17) that he was stepping aside as a candidate.

He said the decision was made after discussions with Pakatan’s top leadership, stressing that it was a personal decision made without external pressure.