DAP – 18,845
BN – 18,447
Ind -232

Majority – 398

Mafrel to observe Sibu poll against EC’s wishes

By IZATUN SHARI(Staronline)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) will go ahead and observe the coming Sibu by-election process despite the Election Commission’s decision to drop it as an independent observer for elections.

Its chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said Mafrel would carry out observation from the nomination day on May 8 until polling day on May 16.

“The question of whether there is a need for observers or not does not arise. It will not affect Mafrel’s wish to monitor Sibu by-election. Mafrel is an independent organisation registered under the Companies Commission,” he told reporters here Thursday.

“We will continue to carry out our operations without fear or favour. Mafrel does not need permission or sanction of any parties including EC to monitor the process.

“In fact, EC should be encouraging us to work towards the advocacy of democracy and a free and fair election process,” he said.

The EC’s deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahman Wan Omar who said that there was no need for Mafrel or similar NGOs to be independent observers for the Sibu by-election.

He said Mafrel deputy chairman Col (R) Shahruddin Othman and another representative would be in Sibu from May 14 until May 17 to observe the campaigning, polling and post election processes.

“They will assisted by at least 20 local volunteers for the observation and monitoring process during the Sibu by-election,” he said Mafrel would focus on bribes offered to voters, abuse of government machinery and public resources and also possiblities of violence and threats during campaigning.

On EC withdrawing Mafrel as an independent election watchdog following its failure to submit reports of nine previous by-elections, Syed Ibrahim said Mafrel had written a letter to EC chairman on April 12 seeking a meeting and discuss the reports but had yet to get a response from EC.

He said Mafrel had already completed reports of the nine by-elections held after the 12th general election and a preliminary report of the Hulu Selangor by-election.

He said the delay in preparing reports was due to data scrutiny, fact verification and high standard set by Mafrel as well as the frequent by-elections in the past two years.

He said the problem could be resolved between Mafrel and EC fairly without intervention by political parties or individuals with vested interest.

On Senator Datuk Idris Buang from Sarawak who questioned the credibility of Mafrel and Mafrel’s sources of funding, Syed Ibrahim admitted that Mafrel had received funding from Finland Embassy and International Republican Instutitute from the US, which went towards training of volunteers and observation processes of the 12th general election.

“We are transparent about our sources of funding. We need funding to implement our monitoring work, but it does not mean that we are a foreign agent. We are not under the influence of anybody.

“We have to prepare reports but they are not exclusive for the parties just because they had funded us,” he said.

On Idris’ claim that Mafrel was funded by a former PKR youth leader for Selangor and Federal Territory, Syed Ibrahim said : ”Many organisations are founded by politicians but it has to be clearly understood that the role of Mafrel is as an independent professional observer.”

In its preliminary report on Hulu Selangor by-election, Mafrel highlighted that the campaign for the by-election was marred by incidents of vote buying attempts and blatant election offences committed by both candidates.

It stated that party big-wigs from both Barisan Nasional and PKR went around promising millions of ringgit in development and aid money to voters that might be construed as election offences and infringements of the provisions of the election law and result in the whole election process being declared null and void.

It said there were no serious attempts by the authorities to curtail or stop such practices.

BN – 24,997
PKR – 23,272
Majority -1,725
Spoilt votes – 731

19 April 2010

MAFREL Terus Berperanan Memantau Pilihan Raya

Pada hari ini, Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (MAFREL), Badan Pemantau Pilihan Raya Malaysia ingin mengukuhkan komitmennya untuk terus berperanan dalam memantau pilihan raya negara agar menjadi salah satu proses demokrasi yang bebas, adil, telus dan mencerminkan kehendak mandat pilihan rakyat.

Sehubungan itu, MAFREL ingin mengumumkan misi permerhatiannya terhadap Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Parlimen Hulu Selangor yang bermula dengan penamaan calon pada 17 April 2010 dan pengundian pada 25 April 2010. MAFREL seperti biasa akan melaksanakan pemerhatian terhadap beberapa proses pilihan raya iaitu hari penamaan calon, kempen, hari pengundian dan pasca pilihan raya. Tiga orang pemerhati Mafrel telah berada di Kuala Kubu Baru hari Sabtu yang lepas untuk membuat pemerhatian proses penamaan calon.

Seramai lebih daripada 20 orang sukarelawan terlatih akan ditugaskan sepanjang proses pilihan raya tersebut. MAFREL akan memberi tumpuan pemerhatian kepada usaha-usaha memberi atau menawarkan rasuah kepada pengundi-pengundi, penyalahgunaan kemudahan dan jentera kerajaan dan sumber awam serta akan berwaspada di atas kemungkinan berlakunya perbuatan-perbuatan atau tindakan ganas dan merbahaya semasa kempen.

Isu SPR tarik semula pengiktirafan terhadap MAFREL

Di kesempatan ini, MAFREL ingin menjelaskan perkembangan tentang pengumuman Timbalan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR), Dato’ Wan Ahmad Wan Omar baru-baru ini iaitu tentang pengiktirafan MAFREL yang telah ditarik semula oleh SPR bagi PRK Hulu Selangor.

Sayugia dijelaskan bahawa pengiktirafan SPR terhadap MAFREL adalah sejajar dengan kehendak peraturan 8 yang memperuntukkan perkataan-perkataan “kecuali atas permintaan”, kehendak peraturan 15 (3) yang memperuntukkan perkataan-perkataan “atau orang-orang lain yang dibenarkan secara bertulis oleh Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya” dan kehendak peraturan 25 (2)(d) yang memperuntukkan perkataan-perkataan “orang yang dibenarkan secara bertulis oleh Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya” di bawah Peraturan-Peraturan Pilihanraya (Penjalanan Pilihanraya) 1981.

Pada setiap kali Pilihan Raya Umum atau PRK, MAFREL perlu memohon mendapatkan kebenaran secara bertulis dari SPR bagi membolehkan pemerhati-pemerhati pilihanraya yang ditauliahkan oleh MAFREL menjalankan pemerhatian terhadap tatacara proses pilihan raya yang merangkumi pemerhatian seperti berikut:

a)      Memerhati tatacara urusan pada hari penamaan dan urusan bantahan terhadap kertas-kertas penamaan seperti mana terkandung dalam peraturan 6 dan 7 di bawah Peraturan-Peraturan Pilihan raya (Penjalanan Pilihan raya) 1981;

b)      Memerhati tatacara pengundian seperti mana terkandung dalam peraturan 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 dan 23 di bawah Peraturan-Peraturan Pilihan raya (Penjalanan Pilihan raya) 1981;

c)      Memerhati tatacara apabila pengundian ditutup seperti mana terkandung dalam peraturan 24 di bawah Peraturan-Peraturan Pilihan raya (Penjalanan Pilihan raya) 1981;

d)      Memerhati tatacara pengiraan undi sepertimana terkandung dalam peraturan 25 dan 25A di bawah Peraturan-Peraturan Pilihan raya (Penjalanan Pilihan raya) 1981; dan

e)      Memerhati tatacara penjumlahan rasmi undi-undi seperti mana terkandung dalam peraturan 25D di bawah Peraturan-Peraturan Pilihan raya (Penjalanan Pilihan raya) 1981;

Dalam konteks PRK Hulu Selangor, MAFREL sebenarnya belum membuat permohonan kepada pihak SPR tetapi difahamkan melalui media bahawa pengiktirafan tidak akan diberikan. Atas dasar itu, MAFREL telah memohon penjelasan daripada Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz melalui surat yang telah dihantar pada 12 April 2010. Sehingga kenyataan ini dikeluarkan, MAFREL belum menerima apa-apa maklum balas.

Pada masa yang sama, sayugia dijelaskan bahawa pengiktirafan berkenaan hanyalah meliputi kebenaran pemerhatian tatacara penamaan calon dalam pusat penamaan calon, tatacara pengundian dalam pusat mengundi dan tatacara penjumlahan rasmi dalam pusat penjumlahan undi. Ia tidak menghadkan pemerhatian terhadap persekitaran luar pusat penamaan calon, persekitaran luar pusat mengundi, suasana kempen dan persekitaran luar pusat penjumlahan undi.

Berdasarkan pengalaman MAFREL yang telah memantau pilihan raya sejak tahun 2004, banyak insiden salahlaku dan pelanggaran pilihan raya yang besar berlaku di luar daripada pusat penamaan calon, pusat mengundi atau pusat penjumlahan undi. Contohnya, permasalahan daftar pemilih yang sering diragui, penyalahgunaan jentera dan sumber kerajaan atau penawaran suapan atau rasuah dalam bentuk wang, material dan projek ‘mee segera’ ketika berkempen selain liputan media yang berat sebelah.

Atas sebab itu, MAFREL tetap terus melaksanakan pemerhatian dan gerak kerjanya demi memastikan pilihan raya yang bebas lagi adil. Namun, MAFREL masih mengharapkan jawapan rasmi SPR tentang status pengiktirafannya. Sekiranya benar pengiktirafan tidak diberikan, MAFREL berharap ianya akan ditimbangkan semula demi manfaat kepada kedua-dua belah pihak. Sebagaimana yang telah saya jelaskan kepada media, sekiranya laporan-laporan yang gagal disiapkan oleh MAFREL menjadi sebab pengiktirafan tidak diberikan maka MAFREL sedia memberi komitmen menyiapkan semua laporan berkenaan sebelum PRK Hulu Selangor.

Amalkan Etika Pilihan raya yang adil dan bebas

MAFREL menggagaskan pilihanraya yang berwibawa, aman, bebas dan adil. Ia berdasarkan prinsip-prinsip hak asasi dan demokrasi sebagaimana termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan, perjanjian dan protokol antarabangsa.

Atas dasar ini, MAFREL ingin menggesa parti-parti lawan dan penyokong memainkan peranan melindungi hak-hak pemilih dengan membenarkan mereka merumus dan memutuskan undi mereka secara bebas tanpa melanggar mana-mana undang-undang dan peraturan pilihanraya. Kebebasan kemahuan dan pilihan pemilih mestilah dihormati.

MAFREL menggesa SPR dan Polis untuk mengamalkan keadilan dan keseimbangan dalam melaksanakan tanggungjawab sepanjang proses pilihanraya dengan mengambilkira kepentingan pemilih.

Sekian, terima kasih.

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh

Pengerusi

Menurut pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof (berbaju Melayu jingga), penamaan calon pula ditetapkan pada Sabtu, 8 Mei.

Beliau membuat pengumuman itu selepas mengadakan mesyuarat hampir tiga jam di pejabat SPR di Shah Alam.

Proses penamaan calon dan penjumlahan undi rasmi bagi pilihan raya kecil itu akan dilaksanakan di Dewan Suarah, Sibu, katanya pada sidang media hari ini.

Pilihan raya kecil itu perlu diadakan mengikut Perkara 54 (1) Perlembagaan Persekutuan berikutan kematian penyandangnya Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew pada 9 April lalu.

Aziz berkata SPR telah pun menerima surat daripada Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat beserta sijil kematian Lau, yang juga Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan pada 12 April lalu dan SPR memastikan kekosongan kerusi Parlimen Sibu pada 10 April.

“Mengikut perlembagaan, pilihan raya kecil perlu diadakan 60 hari selepas tarikh kekosongan kerusi itu dipastikan,” katanya.

Pada majlis ini, Aziz juga menyampaikan watikah pelantikan sebagai pegawai pengurus pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Sibu kepada Pegawai Daerah Sibu, Wong See Meng (kiri).

Beliau berkata Wong mempunyai pengalaman dalam mengendalikan beberapa pilihan raya umum di Sibu dan akan dibantu oleh empat penolong pegawai pengurus daripada beberapa jabatan kerajaan negeri di Sarawak.

Aziz berkata bagi pilihan raya kecil ini, SPR akan menggunakan daftar pemilih induk 2009 yang dikemaskini sehingga 9 April tahun ini.

Sibu mempunyai 54,695 pemilih berdaftar yang terdiri daripada 52,158 pemilih biasa dan 2,537 pengundi pos, terdiri daripada 1,910 anggota tentera dan 627 anggota polis.

Proses pengeluaran dan pengiraan undi pos akan dibuat di Pejabat Daerah Sibu.

Kerusi parlimen Sibu kosong berikutan kematian ahli parlimennya yang juga Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Robert Lau Hui Choi, minggu lalu.

Lau, 68, dari SUPP memenangi kerusi tersebut pada pilihan raya umum 2008 dengan majoriti 3,235 undi. Beliau menewaskan calon DAP Wong Ho Leng dan calon PKR Lim Chin Chuang.

Dia mendapat 19,138 undi manakala Wong mendapat 15,903 undi dan Lim (812).

Lau mewakili parlimen Sibu sejak 1990.

Dalam pilihan raya umum 2008, parlimen Sibu mempunyai 53,679 pengundi, dengan majoriti kaum Cina (60 peratus), Melanau (20 peratus), Iban (18 peratus) dan Orang Ulu (1.1 peratus).

Keluarga Lau memiliki kumpulan KTS – sebuah konglomerat yang terbabit dalam industri pembalakan dan media.

Kumpulan KTS memiliki beberapa akhbar termasuk Borneo Post dan Oriental Daily News.

Ong BK

Playing Santa Claus in Hulu Selangor

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid and Zurairi AR(Malaysianinsider)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — It is no secret that both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are in a race to dish out goodies as they attempt to outdo each other in the Hulu Selangor vote, a crucial by-election for both coalitions since Election 2008.

For BN, it means steadily clawing back its way to a two-thirds parliamentary majority while PR needs a win to reassure its supporters that it remains strong despite losing four federal PKR lawmakers recently.

The Hulu Selangor vote was triggered by the death of its MP, PKR’s Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad, who succumbed to brain cancer late last month.

Nomination day falls on April 17 and polling is eight days later. Legally, campaigning should begin after nomination but both the blocs had kicked off their campaign almost immediately after Zainal’s death.

PR’s elections director for the by-election, Selangor PKR Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had openly admitted that he was dishing out goodies as part of his coalition’s move to bolster its flagging momentum.

BN leaders have stuck to their time-tested playbook by thronging the Hulu Selangor seat with seismic development promises to tempt the electorate to overturn the slim 198 votes loss in Election 2008. The BN’s advantage is it controls all three states seats within the federal ward.

So how much have the two spent or plan to spend so far?  To do the maths, The Malaysian Insider made an informal audit based on reports of both the coalition’s spending spree in the run up to the official campaigning period.

Barisan Nasional:

It is without doubt that the ruling coalition, through the federal government, have the upper hand in the race.

From media reports, It is estimated that BN have proposed to spend close to RM60 million on various infrastructure projects.

First up in the list is the housing project in Gugusan Kampung Dusun worth RM32 million.

The project was announced by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a move aimed at ensuring the vote of  Felda settlers in the constituency. The settlers are considered the coalition’s vote-bank in the constituency.

Second up is the proposed development of three primary national schools, one secondary school and one Chinese school. No exact value is available but by conventional standards, the projects should cost a minimum of RM20 million.

Third on the list is the RM16 million worth of miscellaneous “infrastructure projects” that Najib announced in a walkabout event there. No details were given on what the projects are.

Another announcement made by the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is the flood mitigation project in Kg Sentosa, Batang Kali. The project is estimated at RM2 million.

And in what has become a standard election practice, the BN had also promised to repair mosques and public facilities within the constituency at an estimated cost of RM650,000.

Last on the list is the controversial announcement of a daycare centre made by Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. The Pusat Permata Negara will cost the federal government RM200,000.

Other projects announced are the provision of a hearse & facilities improvement for the Masjid Kg Sentosa in Batang Kali with an estimated cost of RM100,000.

Though BN leaders argued that the projects were already planned prior to the by-election, the announcements were made in the run up to the Hulu Selangor vote and will be perceived as a move to woo voters.

Pakatan Rakyat:

The ruling state coalition will not have the cash prowess of its political foes but will have the strength of the state government in its arsenal.

It has capitalised on the state government machinery and coupled with the power over land ownership which is a key issue in Hulu Selangor, will have an advantage over BN.

Khalid has been fully aware of this and has exploited the advantage by announcing that some 100,000 families, who have been occupying state land for more than 15 years, will be eligible for leasehold grants of up to 99 years.

The Selangor PKR chief also said that farmers working on land with temporary occupation licenses (TOL) would either given long-term rent options or issued grants.

Other goodies-giving moves made by the former corporate captain include land grants to 108 families in Ladang SKC Bernam and RM182,500 allocation for 73 senior citizens under the Mesra Usia Emas scheme.

Though no exact amount has been announced, Khalid’s government is expected to spend at least RM1 million for the Hulu Selangor vote.

The Selangor government have also temporarily shifted its office there in a move to be closer to the Hulu Selangor grassroots.

The amount spent by both coalitions so far, particularly BN, is testament to the Hulu Selangor by-election’s significance.

Observers say a win for BN signals a return of voter confidence towards the ruling coalition and Najib’s leadership which was recently boosted by a higher approval rating.

It could also signal the end of PR’s Election 2008 support momentum.

So: is it a deal to appoint judicial members as ROs instead of DOs?

Ong BK

BN seeks to disqualify by-election officer
By Adib Zalkapli and G. Manimaran(Malaysianinsider)

HULU SELANGOR, April 13 — The Barisan Nasional (BN) will demand for the removal of Hulu Selangor by-election’s returning officer Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahalan, claiming that his objectivity has been compromised.

The BN’s request to the Election Commission (EC) comes after the Selangor government’s decision to relocate Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and his executive councillors to the Hulu Selangor District Office during the campaign period for the April 25 by-election.

“When the mentri besar takes over the district office this is very suspicious as the district officer is also the election returning officer,” BN Wanita information chief Datuk Hamidah Osman told The Malaysian Insider.

“So when the MB occupies the district office, can the returning officer maintain his neutrality?” she asked.

Hamidah who is also a Perak executive councillor said the matter was discussed at the BN Wanita machinery where it was agreed that a formal protest be lodged with the EC.

She cited the resignation of Datuk Mat Razali Mat Kassim as the Kuala Terengganu by-election returning officer last year for allegedly campaigning for BN, to justify the her demand.

“We hope the Election Commission can replace the returning officer and at the same time the MB and his excos must leave the district office,” said Hamidah.

She described Khalid’s move as abuse of power.

“I don’t see much of party machinery, only the state government,” said Hamidah.

Last week, the Selangor executive council meeting was held in the Hulu Selangor District Office in Kuala Kubu Bharu where it made the announcement to award land titles to some 100,000 families in the state.

The Pakatan Rakyat-led (PR) government had also announced the decision to temporarily relocate its members of administration at the district office to look into the problems in the constituency.

Khalid’s political secretary Nik Nazmi Ahmad however said the district office was only used for government programmes.

“MB and excos are using district office for government programmes. There’s nothing wrong with that,” the Seri Setia assemblyman told The Malaysian Insider adding that the returning officer will still be able to perform his duties objectively.

The Hulu Selangor by-election was called following the death of PKR’s Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad last month.

It is expected to see a straight fight between PKR and MIC candidates, representing the two coalitions, after nomination day on April 17.

Abuse of govt faciliities has been a weakness of BN for years-and set bad example to all other parties including the opposition. Eg PAS state government often abuse state government facilities in all elections in Kelantan. The Mar 8th `tsunami’ open opportunity for PR to do things differently-but how differently, given the trend of PR to follow BN’s policies/corrupted ways?

The HS by-election may go down in history as a by-election where the conduct of the election could become an election issue itself. It is not often that BN start to complain about abuse of govt machinery by the opposition-but it has started to do so in a major way now. So can voters, with some smart distancing from either side, push the 2 to move towards free and fair elections conduct? Observers and media can play a role in this by collecting complaints from both sides and push the side being complained against to respond to the complaints….sound fun anyway!

May be the voters should take a stand: boycott all government functions suspected as party campaign platforms. If you can’t escape anyway : Ask the candidates/parties if they can stop abusing govt machinery. Do a poll on them!!!!

Ong BK

Ong BK

Malaysia’s Hulu Selangor By-election and Harbingers of Reform

Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak is clearly gaining momentum in areas he can control, such as economic reform and international relations. His biggest challenge, however, will likely be reform of the political culture of his ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), and the coalition it leads, Barisan Nasional (BN). The party and coalition will be tested later this month in the Hulu Selangor by-election.

In truth, the stakes are not as high as with earlier by-elections. Najib has taken control of his government and has made significant headway toward economic revival with his National Economic Model (NEM), pursuing big fish in his push for greater transparency (the Malaysian Anticorruption Commission is questioning a minister in his cabinet, sending a clear message). And relations with major partners such as the United States (he is confirmed for a meeting with U.S. president Barack Obama in about a week’s time) and China are on the upswing. However, the political culture in Malaysia will be a tough challenge for the prime minister. Despite what must be a clear understanding among thoughtful UMNO leaders and strategists, there are party members that continue to try to persecute opposition leaders such as Anwar Ibrahim and others. This effort seems to be politically counterproductive as it highlights UMNO’s weakest link—the defensive status quo faction of the party.

Najib has proven that he has ideas—good ones—and that he has the political will to bring them to fruition. Why not take on the opposition in a competition of good ideas and initiatives rather than using parliamentary procedures and the courts? Wouldn’t the country be better served by political competition for ideas that would win hearts and minds? It would be refreshing to see the fight for Hulu Selangor dominated by such initiatives rather than the arcane politics of past generations.

Ernest Z. Bower is a senior adviser and director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Commentaries are produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).

© 2010 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. All rights reserved.

Ong BK

Friday, April 9, 2010
Hulu Selangor by-election: MAFREL admits failure to submit reports
Hulu Selangor by-election: MAFREL admits failure to submit reports

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/32808-hulu-selangor-byelection-mafrel-admits-failure-submit-reports

Hulu Selangor by-election: MAFREL admits failure to submit reports
Submitted by pekwan on Thursday, April 8th, 2010
Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir ToyoDatuk Zainal Abidin SakomHulu Selangor Parliamentary by-electionLocalMalaysian for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel)Zaid Ibrahim
Prominent politicans give their support to PM’s candidacy decision
NAJIAH NAJIB
Thursday, April 8th, 2010 12:36:00

PETALING JAYA: Despite admitting that it had failed to submit reports for nine by-elections, election watchdog group Malaysian for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) has chosen to be defiant by insisting that its volunteers would be present at the Hulu Selangor by-election.

Responding to a report yesterday quoting Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar as saying that it was dropping Mafrel as its independent observers due to its failure to submit the reports, Mafrel president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh told The Malay Mail that it had not received official word from the EC.

“I cannot verify his (Wan Ahmad’s) statement. It comes as a surprise as we have not even applied for accreditation from the EC,” he said. “In fact, we hope to do so by this week.”

Syed Ibrahim said even if what Wan Ahmad had said was true, it still would not jeopardise Mafrel’s monitoring of the by-election.

“EC accreditation is only for access to election centres, nomination centres and vote-tallying centres. We don’t need the EC’s blessings to work outside these areas to monitor campaign activities, media reports, material giving cases, incidents of violence, verifying the electoral roll and overall environment assessment,” he said, adding that Mafrel was gathering between 90 and 100 volunteers for the by-election.

On Mafrel’s failure to submit reports on the last nine by-elections, starting from Permatang Pauh in 2008, Syed Ibrahim said Mafrel was still trying to overcome its weaknesses.

“Our reporting standard is high because we insist on producing good reports. Whatever it is the data we have collected or photos compiled, these must be recorded in an orderly fashion so that the reports would be useful to anyone reading it,” he said.

“The nine by-elections from Permatang Pauh to Bagan Pinang were held too close to each other. That was very challenging for us as it did not give us much time to process one report properly before having to move on to the next.”

He said it would take two months for Mafrel to produce one report. The EC allows a one-month postelection period to petition should any quarter have grouses with the election and want to file a complaint.

“Mafrel follows the EC’s timeline on this matter so that we can include post-election incidents in our report,” said Syed Ibrahim, adding that the nine reports would be submitted before the next byelection.

Syed Ibrahim said he hoped that the EC would consider Mafrel’s accreditation application. Mafrel had recently come under the spotlight when Selangor Umno deputy liaison committee chief, Datuk Seri Noh Omar, labelled it an “Opposition mouthpiece” for saying Barisan Nasional had broken election rules ahead of the Hulu Selangor by-election on April 25 by allegedly starting campaigning and giving allocations to Hulu Selangor voters.

Noh had claimed that Pakatan Rakyat had also done the same but was not criticised by Mafrel.