PUTRAJAYA, Jan 23 — Slander and death threats were among the many challenges faced by Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof throughout his seven-tenure as chairman of the Election Commission (EC).

Tomorrow (Jan 24), he turns 66 and automatically ends his service as EC chairman, a body that organises and handles election matters in the country.

The slander that he remembers most was when the EC was accused of deliberately resorting to a ‘blackout’ during the vote-counting process and was alleged to have brought in 40,000 Bangladeshis to become voters in the 13th General Election.

“I was so frustrated when Malaysians believed the allegation,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama, in conjunction with his retirement.

He said the EC was an independent body and did not receive instructions from any party.

He said handling the people’s perception towards the EC was among the biggest difficulties he had faced while leading the body, besides managing 26 by-elections in the country.

Abdul Aziz also disclosed that he had received death threats besides receiving a parcel containing the severed head of a chicken that was sent to his office.

He was also warned that his ‘grave’ was provided at Precinct 20 here, with his statue inside a coffin.

Despite receiving such threats, Abdul Aziz said he was not scared and was always happy in carrying out his task.

In reforming the country’s election process, the outgoing EC chairman said he was open to any suggestion from the people, including political parties, non-governmental organisations and individuals.

Abdul Aziz has introduced 17 transformations during his tenure with the EC, including the usage of permanent ink, allowing Malaysians overseas and media practitioners to vote by post, early voting among police and army personnel, upgrading the nomination process and extending the duration of campaign.

He said the election process in the country had involved various transformations and was recognised as one of the best systems in the world by international observers.

In the future, Abdul Aziz hoped more transformations could be implemented, including candidates’ online registration to avoid conflict among political party supporters at the nomination centre.

He also hoped more Malaysians would be registered as voters as there were four million who were eligible, but had failed to register. — Bernama