Election Commission (EC) officers who illegally approve the relocation of voters must be punished, says Bersih 2.0.

This is among five amendments to the Election Act 1958 that the electoral reform coalition has demanded in a memorandum to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform.

The memorandum, submitted today, was jointly prepared by Bersih 2.0 and election education and watchdog group Tindak Malaysia.

It includes proposed amendments to the Election Offences Act 1954 and Election Commission Act 1957.

NONE PSC chairperson Maximus Johnity Ongkili ( right in picture ), who accepted the memorandum from Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson A Samad Said, responded: "Thank you for your input. We are all for transformation."

Samad said: "Our lawyers have scrutinised these laws and this is the outcome. We stress that these reforms must be (implemented) before the general election."

The opposition has constantly complained that voters are moved to different constituencies to change the composition, in order to tilt the election results.

The memorandum builds on Bersih 2.0's demands for electoral reform by providing the legal specifics for such changes.

"This is to make sure the PSC's report to Parliament will be as comprehensive as possible to ensure proper reform of the election system," said steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah.

The proposals cover the:

1. Election Act 1958

  • Section 3: Returning and presiding officers to be drawn from civil society
  • Section 11: Qualifying date for voter registration abolished in lieu of automatic voting
  • Section 15(o): Punishment of officers who illegally approve relocation of voters
  • Section 16(2)(p): EC to draft election code of conduct

2. Election Offences Act 1954

  • Section 5: Abolition of confidential privilege for communications with EC officers when in court
  • Section 6: Protection and privilleges for EC must be subjected to lawful actions
  • Section 11: Grounds for public prosecutor's decision to prosecute election offences or otherwise must be submitted to EC and Parliament

Ten other points were proposed to the Election Offences Act 1954 including the immediate suspension of election officers who refuse to provide relevant forms on polling day.