PETALING JAYA: The Election Commission (EC) should disqualify Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak from contesting in the general election, said a former top cop today.
Former KL CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim alleged that Najib deceived the EC’s returning officer (RO) when he filed his nomination papers to contest the Pekan parliamentary seat.
“Najib did not disclose the discrepancy between his full name registered with the EC and the one registered in two separate court affidavits filed in September 2011,” said Mat Zain.
Mat Zain said that while filing the nomination papers, Najib had declared his name as Mohd Najib bin Hj Abd Razak.
“In the affidavits, his name is affirmed as Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, without the Mohd attached to it,” said Mat Zain.
“Najib’s failure or refusal to disclose this obvious discrepancy is a concealment of material fact which is deception within the meaning of ‘cheating’ as explained in the Penal Code,” he added.
Mat Zain said that the RO could not be blamed for the error as nominations were held on Saturday, a non-working day.
“But the RO should have at least held Najib’s nomination till Monday for verification. Najib’s concealment of the discrepancy from the RO will cause his disqualification,” he said.
Mat Zain urged the EC to act on the matter as the electoral body must respect the law or risk being seen as failing in the discharging its duties.
“The question now is whether the EC will rise to the occasion to disqualify Najib from contesting in GE 13,” he said.
