Bersih 2.0 wants entire EC leadership suspended

(MMO) – All commissioners on the Election Commission (EC) including chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah and deputy Tan Sri Othman Mahmood should be suspended immediately, said Bersih 2.0’s steering committee.

Acting chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari told reporters that their suspensions were necessary over their alleged failure to uphold and safeguard the transparency of Malaysia’s election process.

“Although there were many strong evidence (on misconducts), there has not been one EC commissioner or officer who has taken the responsibility by admitting their wrongdoings.

“Hashim, his deputy and the other five commissioners are shamelessly still assuming their respective posts, when they should have resigned on the grounds that they lost public faith,” he told reporters when met at the Ilham Tower today.

Shahrul added their suspensions were needed to make way for the formation of a tribunal to investigate alleged misconduct during the 14th general election.

These, he said, are some of the short-term proposals listed out by Bersih 2.0 in an Action Plan submitted to the Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC) today.

“To start the electoral reform process, Bersih 2.0 urges the Prime Minister to initiate the suspensions to make way for an investigation and removal of said officers as stated in Article 114 (7) of the Constitution.

“This is a very important step to ensure the freedom and the integrity of the EC is maintained and the positions are filled by people who are more competent and trustworthy,” he said.

The polls watchdog also said it will publish a detailed report on all offences committed during the 14th General Election, based on its observation, which will be made public soon.

Shahrul and fellow members of Bersih 2.0 was at the  Ilham Tower to submit their Action Plan to the IRC — a body that was established by the Council of Eminent Persons on May 15 to ensure check-and-balance is present in key institutions.

The Action Plan, he said, comprises of suggestions and plans with different target timeframe, to be reviewed by the IRC.

The members of IRC include former Court of Appeal judge Datuk KC Vohrah, National Human Rights Society president Datuk S. Ambiga, Suhakam commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai, National Patriots Association president Brig Gen (Rtd.) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji and Universiti Malaya Professor of Law, Prof Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi.