Streram’s lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali said the EC and returning officer Amino Agos Suyub had been given a week to file their preliminary objections on why the petition should be revoked.
Rafique said this deadline was set by judge Azimah Omar during case management today at the High Court in Seremban.
“We were also informed that counsel from the legal firm of Shearn & Delamore will appear for the EC and Agos,” he said.
Last month, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas announced that his chambers would no longer be appearing for the EC in any election petition cases.
Streram filed his action on April 28 after EC denied him the right to contest the Rantau seat in the recent general election.
Mohamad, then Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, won the seat unopposed.
Streram wants the election court to declare Mohamad’s victory illegal and a by-election be held.
He said the EC had breached provisions in the Election Offences Act 1954 and regulations when its officers did not order the police to allow him, his proposer and seconder into the centre.
As a result, he said, although qualified, he was denied the constitutional right to contest in the election.
Meanwhile, Rafique said Azimah, who has also been assigned to adjudicate the Jempol parliamentary seat election petition, also fixed Aug 8 to hear petitioner Kamaruzaman Kamdias’s application to amend his legal papers due to clerical mistakes.
“The respondent (Mohd Salim Sharif of BN) is objecting to our application.”
Salim defeated Kamarulzaman (PH – PPBM) and Mustaffa Daharun (PAS) with a 1,631-vote majority.
At today’s proceedings on both petitions, Abu Bakar Isa Rahmat represented Mohamad and Salim while Satya Kumardas appeared for the EC and returning officers.
A total of 24 election petitions were filed nationwide after the EC gazetted the results on May 29.