Former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohamad Hasan has filed an appeal over the Election Court's decision to invalidate the outcome for the Rantau state seat.

He said the appeal was filed with the Federal Court this morning. The 14-day period for him to file an appeal ended this evening.

“The decision to file the appeal was made after scrutinising the oral judgment (of the election court) and advice from lawyers.

“It is also to exonerate me from allegations of wrongdoing during the nomination day for the 14th general election,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Online.

Hasan, who is also the Umno deputy president, won the seat after PKR candidate Dr S Streram was not allowed to file his nomination papers on April 28 on the grounds of not possessing an Election Commission (EC) pass.

On Nov 16, the Election Court in Seremban nullified the results and ordered a by-election to be held.

The court ruled that there was no written law or requirement for a candidate and his seconder or proposer to have a pass to enter the nomination centre.

In her judgment, Justice Azimah Omar had also reprimanded the EC's returning officer Amino Agus Suyub as not having followed the rules when preventing the PKR candidate from entering, as he knew Streram was outside the nomination centre.

The judge also admonished Amino Agus for lying and found him to be in contempt for trying to coach a witness. She had sentenced him to three months' jail, but this matter is being appealed.

Yesterday, the Election Commission said it is appealing against the finding of facts of the case in the Election Court's decision.