ELECTION Commission deputy chairman Othman Mahmood and four commissioners will end their tenure prematurely on January 1, 2019.

The shortening of their tenure ias in line with Article 114 of the federal constitution, said EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun in a statement today.

“The shortening of their service duration has been achieved and agreed by those concerned in a discussion held on October 15 before the October 17 news reports on the establishment of a special tribunal,” he said.

Azhar was referring to reports of the setting up of a tribunal by the government to investigate the many allegations of misconduct committed by the EC in the run-up to the 14th general election.

The four commissioners whose tenure are being cut short are Md Yusop Mansur, Abdul Aziz Khalidin, Sulaiman Narawi and Leo Chong Cheong.

However, commissioner Bala Singam Karupiah will continue his tenure.

Azhar said a letter pertaining to the early termination of the five men has been sent to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today.

The move is believed to be part of the Pakatan Harapan government’s efforts to clean up the EC and possibly to remove commissioners suspected of wrongdoing. – October 18, 2018.