75-year-old independent hopeful withdraws from Sikamat contest after incomplete documents
SEREMBAN: The hope of a 75-year-old former civil servant to contest again in the state election ended after he was forced to withdraw his candidacy due to incomplete documentation requirements.
Bujang Abu, who had previously contested the Sikamat state seat in both the 2018 State Election (PRN) and 2018 General Election (PRU), was unable to proceed after failing to submit the required election expenditure report as stipulated by the Election Commission (SPR).
The missing document prevented him from fulfilling the requirements to become a candidate in the upcoming election.
Bujang, who earns a living as a street musician after retiring from government service, said he was disappointed with the outcome but accepted responsibility for the mistake.
“I am a little disappointed, but this was my own fault because I did not submit the election expenditure statement after the previous state election as required by SPR.
“It is alright. Perhaps I will try again in the future if I am still around,” he said when met at Wisma Majlis Bandaraya Seremban, which served as the nomination centre for five state constituencies, including Sikamat.
Bujang said he had hoped to once again participate in the democratic process by offering himself as a candidate for voters in the constituency.
However, his candidacy could not proceed after the authorities confirmed that his application documents were incomplete.
In the 2023 Negeri Sembilan State Election, Bujang contested Sikamat as an independent candidate using a spectacles symbol and received 83 votes.
Previously, during the 2018 General Election, he also contested the same constituency and received 15 votes.
Despite the setback, Bujang indicated that he remains open to participating in future elections if circumstances allow.
His withdrawal highlights the importance for election candidates to comply with all administrative and legal requirements set by SPR before being allowed to contest.
