Electoral reform movement Bersih has demanded the immediate resignations of six other Election Commission (EC) commissioners.

Its steering committee accused the six of failing to uphold, defend and implement the democratic right to vote as well as the principles of clean, free and fair elections.

Bersih was responding to EC chairperson Hashim Abdullah's decision to enter early retirement on July 1.

Though welcoming this, the committee, however, questioned the delay in Hashim's decision as calls for his removal have been made known since the 14th general election.

“As Hashim's retirement is not sacking borne out of acknowledgement of EC's lack of competency, integrity, and credibility and that there are still six commissioners in EC, we further call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to be set up to look into electoral fraud and offences which took place during the 14th general election,” it added.

The committee also wants the RCI to investigate the role played by the commissioners in addressing these issues – or the lack of any action thereof.

“The RCI must be completed within six months of its inception,” it added.

Yesterday, EC announced that Hashim agreed to shorten his tenure as chairperson and this was approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

Hashim joined EC on Sept 5, 2014, as deputy chairperson, and was appointed chairperson on Jan 24, 2016.

His tenure has been riddled with allegations of being aligned to the previous BN administration, as well as manipulating the election to allow certain parties to win.

Hashim has denied such accusations, citing the results in favour of Pakatan Harapan as an example of EC acting in a "fair and transparent" manner.