The Election Commission (EC) chief Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof and his deputy Wan Ahmad Wan Omar should have disclosed their links to Umno prior to being appointed to the independent body, said Bersih.

"It is very serious and this shows partisanship.

“(Even) just the non-disclosure that they are party members is a (problem)," said Bersih chief S Ambiga at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Asked to respond to Wan Ahmad's statement that he is a "public servant" and "still is one" despite have been exposed to be a Umno member, Ambiga said this is indicative of the EC’s partisan stance that is contrary to its formation as "an independent body, under the constitution".

"It was a Freudian slip. He (Wan Ahmad) was telling the truth. That is the core of our issue with the EC. They are supposed to be independent," she lamented.

Ambiga said that while they are already asking for both EC top guns to step down for many alleged irregularities in the electoral roll and process, she said that this just adds to why Bersih believe the duo must go.

The matter was disclosed by PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail yesterday, who claimed that Abdul Aziz is registered at Umno’s Ampang division, while Wan Ahmad at Pasir Mas.

Both Abdul Aziz and Wan Ahmad have admitted to the links to the BN’s main component party.  

However, the EC chief said that his name may have been registered without his knowledge, while both have stated that they are non-active members and their membership was of no impact and consequences to their current jobs.

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