Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim tabled 28 amendments to the Election Offences Act 1954 in Parliament today.

Rais, who is de facto law minister, said the amendments which have far-reaching effects on the country's democratic system, is to ensure elections are carried out harmoniously in the future.

The Election Offences (Amendment) Bill 2002 include tighter rules and regulations and higher penalty such as fines and jail terms for offenders and EC officers who fail to carry out their duties in the independent spirit of the election process.

No shouting

"Firstly, the amendments are to ensure that the election process will not be tainted with chaos. It is to guarantee a comfortable and harmonious situation. There will be no such thing as shouting to hurt people's feelings," Rais said during a press conference after tabling the bill.

He said the proposed amendments was also made in view of the Sedition Act which subjects candidates to tighter rules and regulations to prevent them from making seditious statements against others.

"There are statutory declarations where if a candidate is asked 'have you misused religion or caused disunity in the community during elections?' and the answer is yes, then it is a crime and action can be taken," he warned.

Rais stressed that the proposed amendments were preventive measures which would involve the cooperation of the police and Election Commission officers to ensure that political campaigns do not become unruly.

"For example, the police and EC officers can order a banner with seditious words to be taken down immediately without a police report being lodged," he added.

Also under the amended act, employers who prevent their employees from exercising their voting rights can be fined up to RM5,000 from the previous RM500 or jailed up to one year from the previous six months.

This proposal, said Rais, was to ensure that employers protect the democratic rights of their staff.

He expected the bill, up for second reading, to be debated for two days and is looking forward to the arguments that will be raised.

Phantom voters

The bill is expected to be a hotly debated issue in view of current allegations of phantom voters or, in the words of the Election Commission (EC), "imported voters", in the Pendang and Anak Bukit by-elections two months ago.

During the by-elections in Kedah, reports of alleged violence by the opposition was splashed across the media, prompting the authorities to impose sterner regulations on their campaigners and supporters.

Over the last few weeks the EC, Umno and opposition parties have been exchanging political insults and accusing each other of tainting the electoral roll for the July 18 by-elections.

The DAP has been raising the phantom voter issue for decades but the matter has yet to be resolved.

The Election Offences Act 1954 was adopted to prevent wrongdoing and corruption during elections.

The act covers individuals, candidates, agents and officers involved in the election process and stipulates the punishment for the offenders.