EC says no to Mafrel to observe Sarawak polls

(Bernama) – KUCHING: The Election Commission (EC) has decided not to give accreditation to Mafrel (Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections) to be an independent observer in the Sarawak state election, polling of which is on April 16.

EC secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said this was because Mafrel had failed to fully comply to EC’s requirements.

“Among them is for Mafrel and its affiliates to be non-partisan in their work,” he said in a statement.

He said it was EC’s aim to work together with independent election observers which had credibility, integrity and able to control the affiliates.

Kamaruddin said the EC made the decision at a special meeting on Thursday after studying in detail Mafrel’s application to be an independent observer of the Sarawak election.

Mafrel was set up in Oct 2003 to monitor elections in the country. – Bernama