EC confirms chairman Azhar Harun quit, paving way to Dewan Rakyat Speaker nomination
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Azhar Azizan Harun speaks to the media during a press conference at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre July 18, 2019 Picture by Shafwan Zaidon |
In a statement today, the EC said the resignation was also forwarded to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong via a letter to the Istana Negara on June 30.
“In accordance with Article 114(7) of the Federal Constitution, Azmi Sharom, as the deputy chairman of EC will execute the chairman’s duty until the new chairman is appointed,” said EC in a statement today.
On Monday, media reported that Azhar and former minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said have been nominated in a motion to replace current Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff and his deputy Nga Kor Ming.
To me, the most important post for democracy to properly flourish is the Electoral Commission. The removal of Azhar (Art Harun) spells the demise of that prospect which for a brief 22 recent months bloomed.
We're going back to gerrymandering, and gerrymandering of ludicrous proportions - eg. Putrajaya (at or less than 20,000 voters) versus the old Kapar (150,000 voters) or the old Petaling Jaya Utara (renamed as Damansara with 165,000 voters).
Bersatu (Parti PRIBUMI) vice-president Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Ab Rahman says the party would be ‘stupid’ not to use government resources to win the next general election by ‘hook or by crook’
Electoral watchdog Bersih was quick to respond, knowing that Rashid was the former Election Commission chairman and had been pivotal in helping Barisan Nasional over a number of general elections.
Rashid who managed six of Malaysia’s 12 general elections said at a Perkasa division meeting after joining Perkasa:
“This land has always belonged to the Malays. As EC chairman, I knew how to keep the Malays in power”.
He was even reported to have admitted that three redelineation exercises done during his time as EC chief “had ensured Malays remained in power”.
The credibility of the EC was said to have gone downhill under his watch – he was EC secretary from 1979 and its chairman from 2000 to 2008.
Of course, Rashid was appointed by his tuan Mahathir to lead the Election Reform Committee August 2018
A voter in Putrajaya thus have more than 8 times the voting power of another voter in Damansara. One man one vote? Balls. That's how political ketuanan was, is still and will be sustained and maintained.
The position of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission is equivalent to that of a federal court judge, and is personally appointed (or removed) by HM YDPA. So how come Art Harun has been replaced?
It is common in organisations to "promote" somebody, supposedly moving him upwards, but in reality, to get him out of the way, to move a more favoured candidate in.
ReplyDeleteHe was replaced or did he resign willingly?
ReplyDeleteIt would be confirmed once we know who the new speaker and deputy speaker are.
the REAL target was Art and not the Speaker, but they have to find a "worthy" spot for Art as an excuse
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