PUTRAJAYA: The deputy chairman Tan Sri Othman Mahmood and four of the five members of the Election Commission (EC) will leave office prematurely on Jan 1 next year, it was announced today.
The four are Datuk Md Yusop Mansur, Datuk Abdul Aziz Khalidin, Datuk Sulaiman Narawi and Datuk Leo Chong Cheong, said EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun in a statement. The remaining member is Datuk K. Bala Singam.
Azhar Azizan said this was being done in accordance with Article 114 of the Federal Constitution. The article is on the constitution of the EC.
“The decision to shorten their term of office was reached and agreed upon by them at a discussion last Monday (Oct 15), that is before the news on the formation of a tribunal was published by the media yesterday,” he said.
Azhar Azizan said the letter seeking the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the shortening of the term of office of the EC members was sent to Istana Negara today.
An online news portal reported yesterday that the government will set up a tribunal to investigate numerous allegations of misconduct committed by the EC in the run-up to the 14th General Election in May.
It also said that the probe of the alleged misconduct by the EC and some of its commissioners is part of an effort to clean up the commission and put into place electoral reforms.– BERNAMA