Dubai: The Dubai Police chief on Wednesday said that he did not register for Federal National Council elections because he felt that he was differentiated against.
Despite previously declaring his intention to run for FNC elections, and even for speaker of the council, Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim said on the last day of registration for FNC candidacy that there had been differentiations between potentially elected members of the FNC and its appointed members.
Half of the 40 members of the FNC will be appointed by the Rulers of the seven emirates, and the other half will be elected by an electoral college set up by the Rulers.
Lt Gen Dahi said he opposed being asked to present a good conduct certificate as a potential candidate for elections while the same requirement was not extended to the appointed candidates.
"This requirement from the committee is unacceptable. Why should those being elected by the people have to present a good conduct certificate while those that are appointed should not?" he said.
Lt Gen Dahi said he was surprised that a good conduct certificate was required of him following the 37 years he has served Dubai Police, 26 of which were served as police chief.
"I have served this country for so long, being responsible for the safety and security of Dubai. I was very surprised at being asked to produce a good conduct certificate," he said.
"I am not going to change my mind," he told Gulf News one hour before the deadline for registration.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, and head of the National Election Committee (NEC) praised Lt Gen Dahi's contribution to the country but said that the committee was responsible for the elected seats of the FNC and not the appointed ones.
He told Gulf News that all the requirements, including the demand for a good conduct certificate, were in line with the Constitution, and that procedures were "in place for everyone, not certain individuals".
