Vicious lie - EC chief on photo of him sporting PKR badge

Election Commission chief Azhar Azizan Harun has dismissed a photograph of him wearing a PKR badge while dining with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

“A vicious lie,” he told Malaysiakini when asked to comment on the image shared by Umno supreme council member Armand Azha on his Facebook page this morning.

Armand's caption stated: “Pengerusi SPR pakai badge Pakatan dizaman Malaysia Baru (EC chairperson wears a Pakatan badge in the New Malaysia era).”

However, Azhar said he would never support or show support for any political party while in office.

Asked if the photograph was snapped before the last general election, he replied: “I think so. For sure, it is not during my chairpersonship. No way I am going to do that.”

Azhar said during the 2013 general election, he had accompanied the late Umno minister Jamaluddin Jarjis on nomination day.

“Would that be an issue too?” he asked.

“I was a think-tank member of a senior Umno member who became a senior minister too - is that an issue?” he added.

Azhar (above), a lawyer by profession, was appointed as the EC chairperson last September.

Following Pakatan Harapan's victory in the GE14 general election, a tribunal was formed to investigate the alleged wrongdoings of previous EC commissioners.

The tribunal was set up in response to election watchdog Bersih's report to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Overall, 13 charges were made against the six former commissioners in connection with their role in preparing the controversial redelineation report, and the manner in which the last general election was conducted.

However, the tribunal came to an abrupt halt after its members declared the proceedings as a futile exercise, much to the disappointment of attorney-general Tommy Thomas.

In a separate development, the EC also recorded a total of 101 election offences during the course of the 14-day campaign period for the Tanjung Piai by-election in Johor.

Topping the list was BN followed by Harapan.

 - Mkini