The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) notes the Election Commission’s (EC) announcement today with regards to the Sarawak state elections. As announced by the EC, the nomination day will be on April 25, 2016 and polling day on May 7, 2016.

In an effort to prevent fraud and irregularities during the Sarawak state elections, Bersih 2.0 has launched a public complaints hotline where a citizen can lodge a report if s/he witness problems during the elections such as bribery, treating, phantom voters, and provocations.

This is because despite campaigning for free and fair elections for almost a decade, Bersih 2.0 is still concerned about the integrity of the electoral process in Malaysia, and in particular for the upcoming Sarawak state elections.

In the previous 10th Sarawak state elections in 2011, Bersih 2.0 has raised concern over abuse of power, vote buying, threats, disenfranchisement of voters, and restrictions to campaigning. (ref: Press statement on 10th Sarawak state elections in 2011).

An election observation team led by Malaysian Election Observers Network (MEO-Net) during the 10th Sarawak state elections in 2011 also concluded that the elections were not free and fair. Among others, they found evidences of widespread vote buying in Tamin, Belaga, and Bawang Assan.

Since the last Sarawak state elections and general elections, the EC and the government have not made any substantial reform to ensure that the elections will be free and fair.

Therefore, Bersih 2.0 urges Malaysians to play a proactive role in protecting the integrity of our electoral system. We require sincere and brave volunteers who are willing to give their time during the campaign period and on polling day itself. The task at hand is to become impartial observers of any instances of electoral fraud that may take place in the 11th Sarawak state elections.

Those who have information about electoral fraud and misconducts during the Sarawak state election can file a report to Bersih 2.0’s public complaints hotline via: Tel: 03 7931 4444, SMS/Whatsapp: 011 3133 9820, Email: [email protected] , Website: www.bersih.org/sarawak2016