Rashid: Someone else wanted the job, unfortunately, I was picked

Bersatu vice-president Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said he did not ask to be appointed as the head of the government's Electoral Reform Committee (ERC).

"(My critics) welcomed the establishment of this committee but there was a little bit of controversy about it. Somebody else wanted to do the job but, unfortunately, I was selected.

"I didn't ask for this job. I was peacefully retired and playing with my grandchildren but I think they see me as someone who can deliver," the former EC chairperson told reporters in Putrajaya today.

However, Rashid, who was responding to the criticism surrounding his appointment, did not name the person who wanted to head the committee.

During his tenure as EC chief, he was often criticised by the then-opposition and electoral watchdogs for allegedly running unfair elections to keep BN in power.

The reform committee, which he chairs, has proposed sweeping reforms that could ensure freer and fairer elections in the future.

The committee has 10 members but plans to expand this to 18 to include representatives from Bersih, pollster Merdeka Centre, BN, the EC, and East Malaysian NGOs.

Besides Rashid, those currently on the committee are Bersatu's Kamaruddin Md Nor, Nordin Salleh, and Wan Saiful Wan Jan; academics Redzuan Othman, Faisal Hazis, and Wong Chin Huat; Home Affairs Ministry special affairs officer Marzuki Mohamad; EC secretary Mohamed Elias; and National Integrity Department director-general Anis Yusal Yusoff.

Rashid said he would ensure that the reforms implemented would strengthen the EC and keep it free of controversies in the future.

"I want the EC to be a good organisation, whose chairperson can sleep easy," he said with a laugh, adding that he knows how tough it can be.

-Mkini