By Selangor Journal Staff
KUALA LUMPUR: Prominent lawyer Azhar Azizan@Harun has been officially appointed as the new Election Commission (EC) chairman.
The appointment of Azhar, fondly known as Art Harun was announced earlier by Chief Secretary to the Government Ismail Bakar in a media statement.
“With his qualifications and experience, I am convinced that he will be able to carry out his duties, obligations and responsibilities as the EC chairman in accordance with the Federal Constitution’s requirements,” the statement reads.
Kedah-born Azhar, 56, began his legal career in 1987 at Allen & Gledhill before he became a practicing lawyer at Messrs KH Koh, Azhar and Koh in 1992.
He then subsequently served in several leading law firms in the country including Messrs Khaw & Hussein, Messrs TH Su & Partners, Messrs Lamin & Co, Messrs Hisham Sobri & Kadir, Messrs Shafee & Co and Messrs Cheang & Ariff, specialising in electoral law.
He currently serves as an advocate and solicitor at Messrs Azhar & Goh.
Azhar is replacing Mohd Hasim Abdullah, who had vacated the post on July 1.
Hashim was previously criticised for allegedly committing electoral misconducts during GE14 in May.
Among the allegations made against him includes unfair redelineation of constituency boundaries, holding the polls on a Wednesday, and withholding election results.
On June 13, the EC had said that the shortening of Hashim’s service period was approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.
