No rules barring Suhakam commissioner from running for election, says Zahid

There are no regulations preventing Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner Hasnal Rezua Merican Habib Merican from representing Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Kuang state constituency in the Selangor state election, says BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid said he had reviewed the matter with lawyers on nominating Hasnal Rezua Merican for the seat. 

"There is not even one regulation which bars (the nomination) and I have referred it to our lawyers," he said in a Kuang constituency ceramah at Bandar Tasik Puteri last night.
 
"Actually, we should be grateful because a figure in Suhakam who all this time saw that the fountain of justice should be realised – now that he is a BN candidate, he should not be considered unable to uphold the fountain of justice," he said.

Hasnal Rezua Merican, who was nominated to represent BN for the Kuang state seat will face off against incumbent Sallehudin Amiruddin, who is running as an independent, and Mohd Rafiq Abdullah of Bersatu who is representing Perikatan Nasional.
 
Zahid said that besides being a product of Suhakam, Hasnal Rezua Merican was a legal practitioner who should be supported not only by Kuang voters, but also the professional body concerned.

However, he said it would be ethically more appropriate for Hasnal Rezua Merican to withdraw from Suhakam to focus on his services to the people of Kuang.

On the campaign performance of the coalition government parties in the six states involved in elections, Zahid said he was still not satisfied.

"The campaigning period is until Aug 8 which is for early voters and from Aug 8 to Aug 12, the period is short. But we are confident that if we are satisfied from now on then we will not work," he said.

The deputy prime minister added that he would once again go down to the six states with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to greet the machinery and voters.

"Also for the voters concerned, we will serve some new things as game changers for these six states," he said.

The elections in Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan on Aug 12 will be held alongside the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, with early voting set for Aug 8.