The Election Commission (EC) will release a guideline to ascertain constituencies which are deemed as 'trouble-prone' so that the newly-established election enforcement team of the commission could be assigned there to monitor the activities during the campaign period.

Contacted today, EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said one of the criteria to determine the 'trouble-prone' areas would be based on the "track record" of each constituency during the last general election.

"A committee is outlining a guideline on this and we are very busy training the enforcement team officers now," he said.

He was uncertain on other details such as when the guideline would be unveiled or how many enforcement teams will be set up nationwide.

"They (political parties) will know eventually," he asserted.

Asked whether the ruling was due to manpower shortage as not all constitutencies will be covered, Abdul Rashid replied: "Better you ask ( de facto law minister) Dr Rais (Yatim), he is the one issuing statements on this all the time, I don't know why."

Responding on the opposition's concerns that prejudice will arise in deciding the 'trouble-prone' constituencies, the EC chair brushed it aside as a mere political statement.

"The issue does not arise, they are just making a political statement. But as the EC chief, I am talking about good management, only good management works.

Authority of the team

Rais, who is the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, was quoted in news report today as saying the election enforcement team will only be allocated at certain constituencies which are "troublesome or likely to be troublesome" to ensure a smooth running of the election.

The newly-mooted election enforcement team will come into force in the next general election - due by November this year - as Parliament has amended the Election Offences Act 1954 last October to include a new provision that empowers the election enforcement team to monitor the activities of election candidates and to see that they comply with election laws.

The team is empowered to take immediate action against those who breach the laws. This includes the removal of campaign materials and the detention of those involved in holding illegal ceramah .

Each team will be headed by an EC officer, and will comprise a police officer who is at least an inspector, representatives of the local authority representative and those of the candidates or their political parties.

During the tabling of the bill, Rais had told the Dewan Rakyat that the amendment was necessary in view of the changing political climates and voters' attitudes in the wake of "new developments" following the Anak Bukit and Pendang by-elections in 2002.

How effective?

PAS secretary-general and Yan MP Nasharuddin Mat Isa when contacted said he expected the enforcement team to be stationed only in constituencies where the ruling government is likely to be defeated.

This, he added, will also include the three opposition front line states of Terengganu, Kelantan and Kedah.

"We worry about the abuse of power. We agree to any effort to make the election clean and transparent but if it were the lack of resources that the enforcement team could not be set up in all constituencies, then there is no need to use the team at all," he said.

DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock however said the enforcement team may end up with only going around and looking into all technicalities such as removing illegal banners and posters.

"How effective, how fair would the team be?" the Kota Melaka MP queried.

He doubted the effectiveness of a small team of members in the event of a riot for instance.

"They will need the assistance of the police in the event of a chaotic situation involving a huge crowd," Kerk added.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Mohd Azmin Ali said it was improper for Rais to jump to conclusion in preempting which area is "black" or "white" even before the elections are held.

Mohd Azmin who is also head of Keadilan's election bureau and Hulu Kelang state assembly person stressed that if the enforcement teams are only put in certain areas, this can result in the voters losing confidence and trust in the EC and the government.