Independent election monitors Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) will apply soon to the Election Commission (EC) for accreditation to observe the forthcoming 9th Sarawak elections.

The elections are widely expected to be held in April, eight months before the end of the term of the state assemblypersons.

Mafrel said it hopes the EC will be more accommodating than it was during the Pengkalan Pasir by-elections in Kelantan last month.

"We will not be deterred from engaging positively with the EC with a view to pursue genuine, credible, free and fair elections in Sarawak," Mafrel chairperson Abd Malek Hussin said today.

In Kelantan, the EC had refused to accredit Manfrel-appointed election observers to monitor critical aspects of campaigning, polling and counting process.

"Mafrel is of the view that the Sarawak elections merit observation and monitoring of its entire process...to deter recurrence of electoral irregularities, violations and offences," he said.

This is because in the 2001 state elections, 50 complaints were recorded based on the Sarawak Election Watch findings.

These, he said, ranged from flawed voters lists, alleged corrupt practice, intimidation of voters and disturbances during the campaign period which had seriously diminished the credibility of the election process.

Three teams

Mafrel plans to send three teams of long-term observers to Sarawak, to be based in Kuching, Sibu and Miri respectively.

"We will observe and monitor as many constituencies as possible during the elections," he said.

"We will seek the co-operation of Sarawak-based NGOs to recruit local volunteers to be trained as short-term observers for deployment during the campaign period and on election day."

Malek visited Sarawak last year to met leaders of various political parties to inform them of Mafrel's plans to conduct a comprehensive observations of the state elections.

The state assembly will be increased by nine seats from 62 following changes to the electoral boundaries. Most of the seats are either in coastal or interior areas.