ELECTION Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh retired yesterday after four years at the helm.

The EC said Ghani had held the position since August 2020.

“The EC expresses its highest appreciation and thanks to Abdul Ghani for all his contributions and devoted service as chairman of the commission, from Aug 21, 2020, to May 9, 2024,” it said on X.

Ghani was formerly the Kuala Langat district council chairman and a Gombak district officer.

He has announced that the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election tomorrow will be his last as EC chairman.

Yesterday, electoral reform group Tindak Malaysia urged the government to amend the Federal Constitution to allow reforms in the appointment of EC officials.

Tindak Malaysia director Danesh Prakash Chacko said amendments were timely as the EC was due to receive a new chairman.

“As elections give legitimacy to federal and state governments, we call upon the current government to demonstrate its reform commitment by consulting the Parliamentary Special Select Committee and preparing for wider constitutional amendments on elections,” he said in a statement.

The government has not indicated who will replace Ghani. – May 10, 2024.