Investigating officer Insp Azizul Mohd Zakaria, from the Rembau police district headquarters, said he came to that conclusion after recording statements from 27 people.

“They included policemen, Election Commission staff, election agents as well as Pakatan Harapan candidates,” said the seventh witness for Streram.

Azizul said the returning officer for the Rantau state seat, Amino Agos Suyub, and his assistant, Daing Muhammad Rahimi Abdul Hamid, were authorised by the state EC chief to allow Streram and his seconders in although they did not have a pass.

During examination-in-chief by counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, the police officer said there were no standard operating procedures adopted by the EC for the issuance of the entry pass.

Azizul said there were also no laws which barred a candidate or his agent from submitting nomination papers without a pass.

Azizul will be cross-examined on Friday by counsel for Agos and the EC.

The Rantau state assembly seat was won uncontested by Mohamad Hasan, the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar.

Streram filed his action on April 28, claiming the EC had denied him the right to contest the Rantau seat in the May 9 general election.

He wants the election court to declare Mohamad’s victory illegal and that 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 nomination centre.

As a result, he said, although he was qualified, he was denied the constitutional right to contest in the election.