The pro-Bersih group Global Bersih is urging the Election Commission (EC) to implement a mechanism that accreds their election observers assigned to monitor the postal voting process abroad.

It said in a statement yesterday that this is necessary for the observers to be "fully effective".

NONE The Bersih committee and the MyOverseasVote NGO-endorsed statement also reiterated that the EC has yet to provide clear guidelines on how overseas voting would be conducted and monitored.

This puts the integrity of the next general election in jeopardy unless the issue is addressed, the group warned, as there is a possibility of the outcome being "held hostage" if any candidate mounts a legal challenges.

"If the EC does not act urgently and properly, Malaysia faces the real danger that the election result will be challenged as null, void and unconstitutional because of failure to implement the voting process satisfactorily.

"The most important general election in Malaysia's history may thus be held hostage by the very institution that is constitutionally charged with delivering a transparent and legitimate election," the group said.

It had launched a campaign to recruit volunteers in late-January to monitor what would the first time Malaysian expats are allowed to cast postal votes from Malaysian diplomatic missions.

NONE Previously, the facility was restricted to government servants, armed forces personnel and government-sponsored students abroad, and their spouses.

Pro-electoral reform groups, including Global Bersih, had welcomed the postal votes move but with some reservations over its implementation.

It believes that best way to overcome one of its shortcomings and ensure the integrity of postal ballots is to count them at the respective polling stations before being dispatched to Malaysia.