The increase in deposits for candidates to contest the general election has not deterred hopefuls from filing their nominations as has happened in the past, according to watchdog group Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel).

This was among findings reported by the group , which had monitored the nomination process last Saturday to record its observations. Its chairperson Abdul Malek Hussin revealed the main issues recording at a press conference this morning.

Candidates were required to post a deposit of RM10,000 for parliamentary seats and RM5,000 for state seats this time around, compared to RM5,000 and RM3,000 respectively in 1999.

Mafrel found that the change in format in the nomination form had caused the loss of the Senggarang state seat in Johor for Barisan Nasional (BN)'s Shamsiah Rashidah Ibrahim.

In the old form, candidates had to provide the polling district code number and electoral roll number of the proposer and seconder in addition to their identity card number.

The new form only requires the identity card number. However, both the proposer and seconder are required to be Malaysian citizens and voters in the constituency being contested.

In Shamsiah's case the seconder did not fulfil the second requirement, and opposition party PAS capitalised on it to win the seat uncontested.

Short deadline

A third issue cited by Mafrel was the short period for submission of nominations - reduced to one hour from two hours previously - which the watchdog said had placed undue stress on candidates.

It gave the example of DAP candidate Lee Koo Phey, who was unable to contest the Bukit Lanjan state seat in Selangor because she did not meet the deadline.

Lee told the returning officer that she had left the deposit money in her car. She was told to fill the form before going out to take the money. On her return, she was told that her nomination had been rejected because the deadline had lapsed.

Mafrel also claimed that some candidates have "spent excessively" on their campaign, but would not reveal their names as "investigations are still going on".

Under Section 19 of the Election Offences Act 1954 (amended 2002) the limit on election expenses was raised to RM200,000 for parliamentary seats and RM100,000 for state seats.

The mode of campaigning was scrutinised as well, with Mafrel claiming that one candidate had wrapped posters around traffic-light poles in the form that resembled a turban.

It further noted that the holding of free and fair elections require the freedom to campaign.

"To ensure that the elections truly and rightfully belong to the people, they must be allowed to voice their opinion," it added, calling on candidates to uphold principles that reflect international standards for a free and fair election.