According to China Press, Tan was barred from entering the nomination centre because of his shirt.

Tan then managed to change into a regular shirt, with the help of his entourage, and was able to reenter and submit his papers just before nominations were closed.

“This is embarrassing,” he said as he ran into the nomination centre after changing his shirt.

He jokingly told reporters he had been too busy and also thought candidates could wear clothes with their party’s emblem.

However, he was glad that everything went smoothly and he could still complete his nomination process.

Tan faces a four-cornered fight for the Batu Kawan seat against Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is the Pakatan Harapan candidate, Perikatan Nasional’s Wong Chia Zhen, and Warisan’s Ong Chin Wen.