Sobhan was the principal challenger to Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon when McKinnon stood for election at the 1999 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting . He stood on a platform of changing the emphasis of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group from infringements on the Commonwealth 's democratic principles to ' any economic or environmental crisis ' . The result of the vote ( which remains secret ) , is said to have been thirty-six votes for McKinnon to sixteen for Sobhan , although , continuing the pattern set for Chief Emeka Anyaoku at the 1989 CHOGM , the result was announced as ' unanimous '
1989 CHOGM
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1989
Farooq Sobhan