The Election Commission (EC) should "fairly and independently" fix the nomination and polling dates for the 2004 general election, said DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang.

He said the EC could prove it independence by fixing these dates without complying with "unconstitutional directives or (being) subject to any form of coercion" from the Prime Minister's office.

"The fixing of the election campaign period is a test not only of the independence of the EC but as to whether the general election is free, fair and clean," Lim said in a statement.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today that Parliament will be dissolved tomorrow, but no further details were immediately available on the nomination and polling dates. Under the election rules, polls must be held within 60 days of Parliament being dissolved.

The shortest campaigning period in Malaysian history is in 1999 (nine days).

'Name leaders'

The DAP leader said a fair campaign period would be a 10-day period between dissolution of Parliament and nomination day, with a two- to three week campaign period between nomination and polling days.

EC chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman yesterday said there is no reason for a long election campaign period.

He was quoted in New Straits Times as saying "When I ask the opposition why they need more time, even they cannot tell me."

Lim said Abdul Rashid's comment was a "pre-emptive" step to justify the fixing of a short election campaign period.

"I challenge Abdul Rashid to name the opposition leaders who could not explain to him why a campaign period of 8-10 days is indefensible, undemocratic and most unfair," he said.

He added that a short campaign period underlines the "lack of independence, integrity and professionalism of the EC" and is also against the concept of a fair and clean election.