Election Commission needs a new chairman who is not seen as speaking for BN - Saifuddin Abdullah

Global Movement of Moderates CEO Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah has called for a new leadership to resuscitate the Election Commission (EC).

The former Temerloh MP and deputy higher education minister, however, stopped short of asking for an immediate resignation by the current EC chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof.

“I think we need a new EC chairman. We need someone who is really passionate. Not someone who is seen as speaking for BN (Barisan Nasional),” said Saifuddin.

“We need someone who both sides are comfortable to sit with at the table,” he said, explaining that it was vital that BN and Pakatan Rakyat leaders are able to be able to discuss the EC's redrawing of constituency boundaries, expected soon.

Reforming the EC was among a few suggestions by Saifuddin, a panellist at the forum ‘The Way Forward for Democracy in the Post GE13 Era’, to strengthen democracy in the country.

He also called for politicians to be more bi-partisan, a more robust parliament with more select committees; and for media freedom.

Saifuddin also said that if the Opposition would announce a shadow cabinet, BN would be in "greater trouble" in the next general election.

In the run up to the 13th General Election in May last year, there were calls by Opposition groups and civil society, especially electoral watchdog Bersih, for the resignation of not just Abdul Aziz but his then deputy Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, who is now retired.

There were even allegations that they were UMNO members but the claim had been dismissed by both.

Abdul Aziz became EC chairman in December 2008 while Wan Ahmad was appointed the deputy in 2004.