GEORGE TOWN, March 12 (Bernama) -- There is no conspiracy whatsoever in the Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce to the extent of rejecting the nomination of businessman Datuk Azman Shah Omar Shah for the chamber's presidency, says victorious president Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kader.

Rizal Faris, who was elected unopposed in yesterday's 50th annual general meeting after Azman Shah's nomination was rejected, said technically the latter was not eligible to be nominated for the president's post.

"Every individual aspiring to be a candidate must be a member of the chamber for more than 12 months. Azman Shah only became a member through Edaran Timur Jauh on Dec 30 last year.

"Going by the provisions in the constitution, he is not eligible.

"This condition is clearly spelt out in the chamber's constitution that a company or an individual in a company must be a member for more than 12 months to qualify to contestt," he told reporters in responding to Azman Shah's allegations yesterday that the rejection of his nomination was a conspiracy to topple him and an injustice in his bid to vie for the top post.

Rizal Faris said he had sought advice from the chamber's secretary-general before deciding to reject Azman Shah's nomination.

"It is not solely my decision to turn down the nomination but the decision of the National Malay Chamber of Commerce," he added.

Rizal Faris and his executive committee members will helm the chamber for a three-year term between 2010 and 2013.

He is holding the post for the second term.