The complaints received on election irregularities have been "unprecedented", a transparency watchdog yesterday said, and the prime minister risks being questioned over the integrity of his administration, unless a transparent investigation is called to allay fears and public suspicion over the 2004 general election.

"Never has there been so many complaints by voters and candidates who stood for elections," said the Kuala Lumpur Society for Transparency and Integrity, local affiliate of global anti-corruption body Transparency International.

Its deputy president Param Cumaraswamy said in a statement that the Election Commission (EC) is itself "under severe criticism, not just by the opposition, but also by some of the Barisan Nasional component parties."

Since the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has posited accountability, transparency, and integrity at the centre of his election promises, he must then consider all the circumstances that merit an inquiry on the elections, and not "disregard the complaints as emanating from the disgruntled opposition and voters."

"These complaints, if not properly addressed and investigated in a transparent manner, and the public suspicions and fears allayed, could affect the integrity of the latest electoral process," said the former UN special rapporteur on judicial independence

EC's call reflect magnitude

Param, who disagreed with those calling for the resignation of EC chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, however backed the EC's call for an independent inquiry.

"Calling for the impeachment of the chairperson of the EC is not the answer," said Param, adding the members of the EC, like judges, are insulated by the security of tenure to provide for their independence.

Similarly, police investigations would be inadequate to address the many irregularities raised; and the same would apply to individual challenges by election petitions before the courts, he said.

"By calling for an independent inquiry, the EC chairperson is seen to have conceded that any internal inquiry by his commission may not be seen as transparent and accepted generally by the public. He should be given credit for that.

"Certainly his (Abdul Rashid's) call must be seen as confirming the magnitude of the issues," added Param.

Among the numerous complaints lodged on the messy conduct of the election included one police report by Elections Commission secretary Wan Ahmad Wan Omar over the misprint of ballot papers for the Sungai Lembing state constituency.

But the most common complaint came from registered voters who alleged that their names were not on the electoral roll, despite having voted in that constituency in the past.

Nowhere was this more stark than in Gombak, Selangor, where polling agents alleged that "hundreds" of names were missing from the roll, and EC officers nowhere to be found.

Scores of others were caught out when they found that while their names were on the roll, they still could not vote as the EC failed to assign them to voting channels, a procedure ensuring voters can obtain a ballot at their polling stations.

Some also alleged that they were transferred, without their knowledge, to other constituencies and even other states. Malaysiakini managed to independently verify some of these complaints.

Most recently, PAS and Keadilan have publicly denounced the election results, on grounds that it was conducted in a highly "questionable" manner; which included the EC distributing three versions of the voters' list, they alleged.