Electoral reforms press group Bersih today have urged Putrajaya to appoint one of their former chairpersons or a former judge to replace outgoing Election Commission chief Mohd Hashim Abdullah.
Bersih acting chairperson Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said the EC should be helmed by someone "strong and stern" to reform the electoral system.
"The previous Bersih chairs are very good candidates. They have gone through a lot of things but it really depends (as) I know they are very careful about this, they are not power-hungry people.
"Ex-judges or good judges are also among the people who are qualified. Some judges who were brave enough to make judgments despite a (pressures from the previous) BN government," he told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.
Asked if he was referring to former Bar Council president and the first Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, Shahrul said she would make a good candidate but stopped short of officially endorsing her.
"Well she can, she is definitely (a good candidate) and I think the Malaysian public thinks the same. But having said that, there is not just one person.
"The important thing is not the person but the criteria (used for the selection process)," he added.
Who qualifies?
Shahrul said the three criteria are: Personal integrity, independence and expertise on electoral matters.
Both Ambiga and her immediate successor Maria Chin Abdullah would not meet the second criteria because both were campaigning for Pakatan Harapan during GE14. Maria stood as an election candidate for Petaling Jaya and won on a Harapan ticket.
Although Bersih did not name their preferred judge or former judge as a candidate, it is understood that civil society circles have retired former Court of Appeal judge Hishamudin Yunus as a potential candidate.
Legally, Shahrul said Article 114 (2) of the Federal Constitution said that the candidate for EC chief must enjoy public confidence.
Bersih secretariat manager Mandeep Singh said that there was an urgent need for reforms in the short term because the Sarawak elections were due in 2021.
"We must not wait until the 15th general election (due in 5 years)," he said.
Additionally, Bersih urged the new federal government to ensure that the appointment of EC's commissioners will be made through a transparent process, preferably through Parliament.
The group said that the public should also be allowed to nominate potential commissioners or file objections. - Mkini
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