Person in charge of by-election is returning officer, says Azmi

PETALING JAYA: The main person in charge of the Chini by-election is the returning officer (RO) and the work of the Election Commission (EC) is to oversee, says EC deputy chairman Dr Azmi Sharom.

“If the EC chairman is not available, the law states that the deputy chairman will take over,” he said.

Azmi was asked if recent media reports of the resignation of EC chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun would affect the operations of the Chini by-election on July 4.

“No, the by-election in Chini will not be affected. The person in charge of the by-election is the RO. The EC commissioners oversee. The EC secretariat assists.

“At the moment, we have received no official statement regarding any resignation.

“In general, I can say that in the event the chairperson is unavailable, the law states that the deputy chairperson will fulfil those duties,” Azmi said when contacted.

The Chini by-election was triggered following the death of incumbent Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Harun on May 6.

Early voting was held on Tuesday, with polling on July 4.

Azhar, who was appointed to the EC’s post on Sept 21, 2018, was reported to have sent in his resignation on June 29.

This was following speculation that the former lawyer would be made the next Dewan Rakyat Speaker replacing Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.

A source said that although it was reported that Azhar had sent in his resignation, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had yet to announce the acceptance of his resignation.

“Due to protocols such as this, Azhar cannot announce his resignation until his resignation has been accepted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“Therefore, technically, Azhar is still the EC chief commissioner until the King accepts his resignation and will likely be the chairman during the Chini by-election.

“It is quite the norm for the deputy chairman to be in charge during by-elections as we have seen in the past, rather than the chairman himself,” said the source.

Azhar, however, to date, has yet to comment on the reports.

The by-election will see a three-cornered contest between Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Sharim Md Zain, 41, and two independent candidates, Tengku Datuk Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin, 64, and Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli, 49.

There are 20,990 registered voters for the Chini by-election.