‘ADVERTISE FOR APPLICANTS FOR POST OF EC CHAIRMAN’
A parliamentary committee can vet candidates, says reforms committee member
ASUGGESTION has been put forth to advertise for applicants for the post of Election Commission (EC) chairman should the post become vacant.
Committee on Institutional Reforms member Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, in making the suggestion, said a parliamentary committee could interview those who applied for the job to evaluate their capabilities.
“This is a practical suggestion because anyone who thinks he is qualified can apply,” he said.
“This is more transparent and free. The parliamentary committee will appoint the EC chairman after vetting and evaluating candidates who apply when there is a vacancy.
“This is one of the ideas that can be implemented if we want to see reforms in major institutions, such as EC,” he told the New Straits Times Press yesterday.
The tenure of EC chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah has been shortened to July 1.
The guessing game has begun on who will replace him.
Pakatan Harapan (PH)’s manifesto stated that appointments to important positions, such as the attorney-general, inspectorgeneral of police, Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission chief commissioner, armed forces chief and EC chairman, would be made by a parliamentary committee.
Shad Saleem said the question of who would replace Hashim did not arise, but, more importantly, the individual selected must be vetted by a parliamentary committee.
He cited the United States, where a congressional committee evaluated persons named by the president to see if they were qualified to head an institution.
EC head of corporate communications Mohd Sabri Abdullah said the appointment of the EC chairman must obtain the consent of the Conference of Rulers after the prime minister had suggested a name.
“However, according to the PH manifesto, the EC chairman will be appointed by a parliamentary committee.
“In the previous practice, the chairman may not necessarily be from EC but a high-ranking former government officer,” he said, pointing out that former EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof was a retired officer from the Home Ministry.