The outspoken academic will assist Azhar Harun, who was appointed to head the EC in September last year as part of a major shake-up of the election authority.
Chief Secretary to Government Ismail Bakar also announced four new commissioners to the EC, including an activist involved in electoral reforms coalition Bersih 2.0, Zoe Randhawa.
The three others are former foreign ministry secretary-general Ramlan Ibrahim, former director-general of the Manpower Department Chin Phaik Yoong and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia academic Faisal Hazis.