Flamboyant talk-show host Albert Cheng King-hon said yesterday he would complain to the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Electoral Affairs Commission today about what he claims were efforts by Commercial Radio to stop him standing for election. Cheng alleged the station had offered to pay out his contract on condition he did not run for Legco. In a further twist, he said he would return to the programme on September 28 and that no one could stop him as his contract was still in force. The station said last night it was seeking a legal opinion and would not respond to Cheng's claims - made at a press conference called by station director Winnie Yu which Cheng attended without invitation. It is a crime under election laws to offer or accept an advantage over standing or not standing for election. A spokesman for the Electoral Affairs Commission said it had yet to receive any complaint but would look at the evidence before considering how to handle the case. The Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance provides for a fine of up to $500,000 and up to seven years' jail. His allegation came just minutes after Ms Yu had said it was Cheng who first asked for the termination of his contract as host of the popular talk show Teacup in a Storm, and that he had not been sacked as he had claimed. Cheng, widely known as 'Taipan', had said earlier in the day that he would team up with Albert Chan Wai-yip to stand in New Territories West. He said this after his lawyer told him the Canadian government had approved his renunciation of citizenship - legally opening the way to his candidacy. Ms Yu said the row with Cheng had damaged the credibility, popularity and staff morale of the radio station. She said Cheng had told the station's chief operating officer at the time, Tony Tsoi Tung-ho, and consultant Leung Man-to in mid-June that he would leave the talk show if the company paid out his full contract until 2008. He revealed his political plans at the same time. Ms Yu said she 'very much disliked' the proposal, as it was 'a principle I could not bring myself to agree to' and tantamount to accepting an advantage to quit the airwaves. She said Cheng had told Mr Tsoi he was considering standing for election. She said he had to choose one or the other - the contract or standing for election. 'I did not want to delay his election timetable. We did not mean to block him from standing, but the contract won't be valid if he stands.' Cheng said Ms Yu had not told the whole truth. He said he had received a letter on June 25 that set out conditions for him not to run. 'They didn't say [in the letter] they wanted to fire me or terminate my contract. The meaning [of the letter] was that they didn't want me to host the programme and they would pay me every month. But there was one condition: I could not stand for Legco elections,' he said. He vowed to return to his show next month as he had not signed anything to terminate his contract.