Hectic days ahead for new EC chief
Art Harun has to deal with controversies and also ensure PD by-election a clean affair
PUTRAJAYA: Newly-appointed Election Commission chairman Azhar Harun begins work with plenty on his plate.
The first agenda for the lawyer is to oversee the nomination process for the Port Dickson by-election today.
The EC is also facing a lawsuit filed in the High Court by a Port Dickson constituent, who is challenging Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah’s resignation as MP there.
Azhar, 56, better known as Art Harun, was also subject to character assassination when images of a man, resembling him, drinking alcohol and womanising went viral.
“I start work with a hectic schedule ahead of me. Not only do we have a by-election to handle but yesterday (Thursday), a lawsuit was filed against the EC.
“Port Dickson is an ordinary by-election, but extra attention is given to it because of the personalities involved.
“In fact, not only the whole country is paying attention; it is also attracting attention internationally.
“My aim is to ensure that the Port Dickson by-election is a clean and fair one,” Azhar told a press conference after his clocking-in ceremony at the EC headquarters yesterday.
The Oct 13 by-election was called after Danyal from PKR relinquished his seat to pave way for his party’s president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest there.
Azhar said he would be meeting with the Election Reforms Committee soon to discuss the 15 reforms proposed by the committee.
The committee is chaired by former EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abd Rahman.
“We will work together to achieve the reforms.
“This is not saying that the EC is in a bad state. It is not, but if we can, we should elevate it to an international level and of universal standards,” Azhar said.
On his appointment, Azhar acknowledged comments by Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin that it breached Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto.
(Pakatan had pledged that appointments for the EC members should go through Parliament.)
“Firstly, I thank Khairy for having confidence in my ability for this post. As for Pakatan’s election pledge, I cannot speak for them as I am not aligned to any political party.
“My appointment is done correctly according to the existing mechanism. But should the government decide to establish a new mechanism later where appointments must be made through Parliament, and decide to put me or other officials through this process, I welcome it.”
“I am not beyond scrutiny,” said Azhar.