EC chief resignation call: PAS says no need, Umno Youth says time to go

Muafakat Nasional and Perikatan Nasional partners PAS and Umno appear to have differing stands on whether Election Commission chief Azhar Harun and other commissioners need to resign.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan had defended the EC, while Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi said it was time for the current line-up to quit.

Takiyuddin, in a statement, said the Federal Constitution does not require the EC chief and commissioners to quit simply because of a change in government.

"This is as long as the EC has the public's trust.

"PAS views that the EC under Azhar's leadership has done their jobs in conducting elections, especially by-elections, efficiently, professionally, and without bias," he said.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Asyraf accused Azhar and the commissioners of bias

One reason, he cited, was the EC's introduction of a "last-minute" rule requiring parties and candidates to get a police permit before doing house to house visits during a campaign.

Azhar previously said that candidates were informed about the rule on nomination day and did not raise objections.

Meanwhile, Asyraf also took aim at the EC for failing to take action against electoral offences by Pakatan Harapan such as various cash handouts during by-elections.

"There are many more (reasons) if we want to list them, actions by the EC under Azhar which are seen to be partisan and biased.

"As such Umno Youth reiterates that Azhar must resign honourably to restore public confidence in the EC,": he said in a statement.

Azhar had previously said that current laws, which have not been amended, do not allow the EC to investigate or take action against election offences.

Others who have asked Azhar and other EC commissioners to resign include the commission's former EC deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar who said the current line-up must quit for being pro-Harapan activists in the past.

The calls for resignation come after Perikatan Nasional took power last Sunday. The political turmoil leading up to the change in government had prompted Tommy Thomas to resign as attorney-general, while Latheefa Koya quit as MACC chief yesterday.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Takiyuddin welcomed the appointment of Federal Court judge Idrus Harun as the new attorney-general.

"PAS is confident Idrus' appointment is most suitable based on his high legal knowledge and wide experience in the legal field and the judiciary," he said.

Idrus is coincidentally Azhar's older brother. The new attorney-general was appointed yesterday.

Previously in 2018, former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram had suggested that Idrus would be a better pick for the attorney-general post than Thomas and claimed other former judges shared the same view.