Why is M'sia such a nervous Nelly over call for observers?

Australia's independent Senator Nick Xenophon has described as reasonable opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's request for independent observers from the region to observe the Malaysian election.

Xenophon ( right ), who is from South Australia, described Malaysian media reports that Australia was seeking to interfere in the Malaysian polls as complete misrepresentation, fabrication and distortion of the true position.

"Why is the Malaysian government so nervous about Anwar's reasonable request for independent observers from the region.

"All Anwar was asking for was for free, fair and clean elections in Malaysia and for Australia - as a neighbour and great fried of Malaysia - to play a role if requested," he said in a statement.

Xenophon ( right ) handed over Anwar's personal letter to Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr last week.

He said there is nothing in that request to Carr that could be construed as interference by one nation in another nation's affairs.

He added that Foreign Minister Carr was quite right in saying that Australia would not interfere in Malaysia elections, asking how can asking for independent observers be seen as interference in anyway.

"The reality is that an independent International Observer Group from six nations reported in April on the Malaysian electoral system, raising a number of serious concerns over the state of Malaysian democracy," said Xenophon who was a member of the group.

Aside from him, there were representatives from India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Germany.

Xenophon also said he would personally welcome Malaysian interest in Australia's own forthcoming federal election.

"Because Malaysia and Australia are such great friends, I'm sure Australian MPs and the Australian Electoral Commission would welcome scrutiny from Malaysian MPs of our electoral system in the lead-up to our general elections next year."

Xenophon earlier this month was in Kuala Lumpur, where he lodged a police report against Utusan Malaysia as well as the New Straits Times for publishing what he described as "vile, disgusting and false" reports on him as being anti-Islam.