Ex-EC chief Abdul Rashid to be PPPM’s pick for Putrajaya seat

(MMO) – Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman will be Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) Putrajaya candidate in the upcoming 14th general election, according to sources.

Malaysiakini reported that the ex-Election Commission (EC) chairman was confirmed by the party during a meeting last week. Party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is set to make the official announcement on Sunday.

Alongside 76-year old Abdul Rashid, three others were nominated for the Putrajaya seat, included its division chief Hasnul Hadi Ahmad, Wangsa Maju division chief Ahmad Tamby Kadi and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political analyst Prof Datuk Samsu Adabi Mamat.

The former civil servant faces Putrajaya’s incumbent MP and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor, who has served for three terms.

A source later told Malay Mail that the nationwide announcement of all PPBM candidates is also expected to take place on Sunday.

Abdul Rashid’s tenure as EC chairman was from 2000 and 2008, although he began working for the commission in 1979 as a secretary up until 1995.

His civil service career began in 1967, and included serving as the Public Services Commission assistant secretary in 1968 to 1969, Immigration Department senior assistant secretary from 1972 to 1975, Melaka Municipal Council secretary from 1975 to 1976, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government deputy secretary-general from 1977 to 1979, and Education deputy secretary-general from 1995 to 1997.

Abdul Rashid was appointed vice-president of Malay rights group Perkasa in 2013, and is reported to have acknowledged that the three redelineation exercises under his tenure were aimed at continuing Malay political dominance.