Harapan-BN broke promises twice on EC appointments: Bersih

Election watchdog Bersih has accused Pakatan Harapan and BN of breaking their promises twice since the general election over appointing Election Commission (EC) members.

The group said the two coalitions, which are the largest components in today’s federal government, promised that key EC appointments would be reviewed via parliamentary committee.

However, the government has so far appointed two EC members without an open and transparent process, said Bersih executive director Ooi Kok Hin.

“Promises broken twice. With the retirement of the EC chairperson this month, will the promise be broken the third time?” he asked.

Bersih held a press conference this morning regarding the appointment of the newest EC member Sapdin Ibrahim, who began his duties on Monday (May 6).

The EC announced Sapdin’s appointment on Facebook the same day.

In April 2023, Lee Bee Phang was reportedly appointed to the EC after she resigned from Genting Malaysia Bhd as its independent non-executive director.

Election Commission

Meanwhile, Ooi dismissed the notion that BN and Harapan’s manifestos could not be fulfilled due to the composition of coalitions that had never worked together before.

Bersih chairperson Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz also said the government can make amends by ensuring the next EC chairperson is appointed by establishing a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Electoral Affairs.

The committee should be comprised of bipartisan MPs with clear processes and criteria for appointing the chairperson, he said.

“Fairness, integrity, a progressive mindset, and determination to implement reforms, not being a member of a political party nor holding key positions in a political party, knowledge in election-related matters, and having no record of criminal or serious electoral offences must be key criteria for the position of an EC chairperson,” he said.

Ooi also pointed out that the new EC chairperson will take on the unprecedented burden of addressing the re-delineation of electoral boundaries, Undi18 voters, and automatic voter registration.

Bersih executive director Ooi Kok Hin

He questioned whether the individual to be chosen for such tasks would come equipped with the necessary electoral knowledge.

Implement reform agenda

Bersih deputy chairperson Wong Yan Ke also said an open and transparent EC appointment process is a simple step to assure voters that the government takes its reform agenda seriously.

“The process to select the EC chairperson or EC members is not rocket science. It’s a very simple thing.

“It’s a beginning step to show you have the will to implement the reform agenda,” he said.

The excuse that a parliamentary sitting is currently not in progress cannot be used because a special sitting can be called, Wong added.

EC chairperson

Further, Ooi said that a proper process for appointing the EC chairperson is in everyone’s best interests, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Not allowing the opposition a say in such appointments could cause racial issues to occur, he warned.

Election Commission chairperson Abdul Ghani Salleh

EC chairperson Abdul Ghani Salleh will retire tomorrow (May 9). He was appointed to the position in 2020 after serving as the agency’s secretary.

Before that, he served as the Kuala Langat district council chairperson and was a Gombak district officer. - Mkini