Mohd Hashim to head polls commission
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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on January 21, 2016.

 

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KUALA LUMPUR: Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah has been appointed the chairman of the commission with effect from Jan 24.

Chief secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, had consented to the appointment of Mohd Hashim, 62, in accordance with Clause 1 Article 114 of the Federal Constitution.

Mohd Hashim takes over from Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof whose term of office expired upon his attaining the age of 66 in accordance with Clause 3 Article 114 of the Federal Constitution.

Ali, on behalf of the government, expressed gratitude and thanks to Abdul Aziz for having served as the EC chairman for seven years and having implemented his responsibilities with excellence.

Mohd Hashim, who was born in Kota Baru on Oct 8, 1954, holds a Master’s degree in political science from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He began his career in the civil service on April 2, 1980, as an administrative officer with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

He last held the post of secretary-general of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry.

Mohd Hashim retired from the civil service on Aug 31, 2014, and was appointed EC deputy chairman on Sept 5 of the same year.

Commenting on the appointment, electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 said Mohd Hashim’s main task is to win back public confidence, The Malaysian Insider reported.

Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said the EC should clean up the voters’ roll in Sarawak before the state polls this year as 38% of those registered were without full addresses.

“How are the candidates going to reach them if the address is incomplete?” she asked. — Bernama/The Malaysian Insider

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