Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali reiterated that BN controls Election Commission (EC) by highlighting that they proposed the appointment of Prime Minister Najib Razak's principal secretary as the deputy chairperson.

However, he claimed that the proposal was not accepted by the Conference of Rulers three weeks ago.

"A name was brought up for the appointment of deputy chairperson, the principal secretary of the prime minister," Azmin was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian today.

"We are grateful that the proposal was rejected by the Conference of Rulers. This proved that EC is being used by BN," he said at the Selangor state legislative assembly when questioned by Rosni Sohar (BN-Hulu Bernam).

Rosni had asked Azmin to substantiate claims that BN meddled in matters pertaining to elections.

Azmin also questioned the appointment of Umno information chief Annuar Musa's private secretary Mohd Hashim Abdullah as EC chief.

"How can EC act independently and professionally if a senior official of Umno is appointed in the commission?"

Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, said that no political party should sit in an entity which conducts the general elections.

He claimed that BN obviously used EC, particularly on the Sept 15 proposed redelineation exercise.

"It was as though EC was waiting for their instruction to create safe constituencies for BN," Azmin said.

He also saw a silver lining behind the move by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) to appoint former EC chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman as vice-president.

Earlier, Azmin said he expects Abdul Rashid to help Bersatu expose BN's conspiracy and fraud in the previous general elections.

Abdul Rashid joined Malay rights pressure group Perkasa in 2003 and was appointed vice-president.

He headed the EC from 2000 to 2008.