The Coalition for Free and Fair Election (BERSIH 2.0) welcomes Dato’ Bala Singam’s decision to shorten his term of service as Commissioner for the Election Commission (EC). The decision was announced through the EC’s media statement and will take effect on January 1, 2019.

BERSIH 2.0 expects EC Chairman Tuan Azhar Azizan Harun to form an EC team comprising new commissioners with the criteria below:

1. Proven track record on personal integrity

2. Proven track record on impartiality and of being independent from government and party politics

3. Proven knowledge/experience/expertise on election laws and electoral system

BERSIH 2.0 urges the Pakatan Harapan government to appoint EC commissioners from among civil society organisations (CSO) as set out in the Promise 17 of Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto. The promise, among others, provides a quota to CSOs as Election Commission Members.

We also would like to reiterate that a Nomination Committee of EC should be formed and then the proposed nominees will be submitted to parliament for approval. But for now, the Pakatan Harapan government should discuss with the EC Chairman as an immediate move to appoint the EC Commissioners.

Hopefully, the new EC team will restore the glory of the EC and ensure transparency in the electoral process so that our country is on par with other developed countries.

Issued by:

BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee