The present constitution provides specifically for the Election Commission chairman to retire at the age of 65. Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman had reached the age of retirement on Dec 31, 2007. Therefore, in accordance with the constitution the EC, the chairperson should just have retired gracefully and let someone else replace him.

What defies logic was for the government to pursue a most unusual course of action to amend the constitution to extend the retirement age to 66 thus allowing the EC chairperson to extend his tenure for another year.

The constitution is a sacred document which should not be frivolously altered or amended merely for the express purpose of extending the tenure of the election chairperson. The constitution of a country is a living document that should not be manipulated to suit the whims and fancies of the incumbent government in power.

To amend the constitution in order to retain the EC chairperson for the express purpose of presiding over the impending election conceals a sinister motive of the government which cannot be construed as honourable.

Why is the government so adamant in wanting to extend the tenure of Abdul Rashid? Even if the reason for the government to retain him is perfectly legitimate, the very act of amending the constitution to extend his tenure undoubtedly casts aspersion on the impartiality of his role in the election.

His public statement that ‘no other regime is capable of running the country’ is further evidence that his impartiality is questionable.

Many outstanding issues such as the use of postal votes, dead people appearing in the electoral rolls, gerrymandering, equal access to media amongst others have not been addressed by the current EC chairperson. How then could there be free and fair elections when all these electoral reforms have not been implemented to the satisfaction of all parties?

Since Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman has not carried out reforms and the government has not displayed any urgency in pressing for changes in those areas, perhaps it would be timely that a new independent person be appointed to the post of the EC chairperson. For that to happen, Abdul Rashid should gracefully exit and opt for retirement.