An in-depth report with evidence detailing manipulations in the electoral processes in the last general elections will be made public during the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) national congress next weekend, its advisor Anwar Ibrahim revealed today.

The report will be supported by 'solid evidence' on manipulation, cover-ups and weaknesses in the 2004 general elections and will also highlight issue of phantom voters, he told a press conference at his Damansara Heights residence this morning.

Anwar said that PKR is taking up the initiative first raised by DAP and other opposition parties.

"The issue was raised by them years ago, but no action was taken. This is because fraudulent means are becoming more and more sophisticated," he said.

"PKR has obtained incriminating data detailing serious infractions in the 2004 general election and the party will take the Election Commission (EC) to task," he revealed.

During the press conference, PKR officials distributed sample data on the irregularities in the electoral roll gazetted by the EC.

In one chart, it was indicated that Selangor recorded 223,950 registered voters who did not have access to the polling booths in the last elections. The state has a total of 1.4 million registered voters.

"We are talking about wholesale denial of voting rights to a significant portion of the population. This cannot be ignored," Anwar said.

No free, fair polls

Another document indicated that voting was repeated in a district voting area, Kemensah, supposedly indicating phantom voting in the Gombak parliamentary seat in the last elections.

In the election for Gombak, Dr Raman Ismail (BN) defeated Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (PAS) by 13,207 votes of a total 67,224 votes cast.

"At the crux of this is the fact that Malaysian elections are neither free nor fair. Only a weak government will interfere with elections to perpetuate their rule.

"An honourable and credible government will not resort to use imperfect elections to create an illusion of democracy," he said.

He commented that the level of democracy in Malaysia is deteriorating whereas "it is thriving in India, Indonesia, Turkey and other developing countries".

The PKR advisor said Malaysia should seriously consider having independent international observers during elections.

He said the data that will be made available would refute Election Commission chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman's claim that elections in the country were carried out in a fair manner.

In the wake of the 2004 general elections, after coming under intense criticism for a string of irregularities in the polls, Abdul Rashid had called for a royal commission to probe the EC. However, the government refused to do so .

Thoughts on Mahathir

Meanwhile, Anwar said he fully supported the need for an independent judicial commission.

He said the 1988 judicial crisis was clearly a case of political leadership packing the courts "with judges that would serve their political masters".

A call for a probe by the Bar Council was made recently into the 1988 judicial crisis which saw the Supreme Court compromised by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's sacking of Lord President Salleh Abas and other top judges.

" Ini bukan pasal bongkar cerita lama , (this is not just about the past) but to serve justice," he said.

Asked on Mahathir was breaking his own promise that he would not interfere with government administration, Anwar replied to laughter: "What can you do? He is a man of contradictions."

"Mahathir is now saying there is no press freedom, that they are demonising him. Of course. It was he, during his time [as prime minister] who muzzled the press and demonised others," he said.

"I tell you this, PM Abdullah, as of now, is a lucky man. If he is Mahathir's current number two, it would not just be a matter of mere criticisms. Abdullah would be in jail now, and accused of raping someone," he added.

Also present at the press conference were PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Ismail and secretary general Kamarul Baharin Abbas.

The PKR congress will be held from September 1 to 3 in Penang.