After serving the Election Commission (EC) for seven years, outgoing EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof today clocked out his last day at the EC office in Putrajaya today.

Abdul Aziz, who will turn 66 this Sunday, said that he is required under the law to stand down as EC chairperson.

Article 114(3) of the Federal Constitution stipulates that the EC chairperson must stand down when he or she reaches 66 years old.

Nevertheless, Abdul Aziz said now would be the perfect time to rest and spend time with his grandchildren.

“I have nine grandchildren, so now I have more time to play with them,” he told reporters after his farewell ceremony here today.

Asked whether he wished the Sarawak state election would have occurred before he retired, Abdul Aziz answered in the negative.

“No, no, not at all. The institution - EC will carry out this. The chairperson or deputy will change from one person to another, but the institution remains,” he said.

Throughout his seven-year tenure as EC chief, Abdul Aziz oversaw the 13th general election, the 10th Sarawak state election and 26 by-elections.

In his speech at the ceremony today, Abdul Aziz urged members of the EC to continue assisting each other as well as to be open and diplomatic in handling any issues.

“Learn from past mistakes and strive to improve in your work and in exercising democracy in the management of our elections,” he said.

His successor, Hashim Abdullah’s appointment as the new EC chief will take effect on Sunday.

Abdul Aziz’s chairmanship had always been criticised by polls reform group Bersih, among others.

When it was first reported that he was retiring, the polls watchdog said it wants a successor who will not repeat previous mistakes .

Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah said the watchdog was not satisfied with Abdul Aziz's performance and hence, "it just cannot wait for his departure from the EC".

"In short, we don't want the EC to repeat what it has been doing all this while, such as when violence occurs during elections, (there is) biased monitoring or persecution of certain political parties only,” she had said.