S'WAK POLLS Electoral watchdog Bersih claims that among the election rules violations occurring in the lead-up to the Sarawak state election is the distribution of organic fertilisers on the day before nomination day.

The fertilisers were distributed at the James Brooke longhouse in Jepak, Bersih said, with the bags bearing the logo of the BN.

This is a clear violation of the Elections Act, Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

Other violations that were spotted by the Bersih observers in Sarawak included posters urging people to vote for PAS candidates in Kg Masjid, and banners with the words 'Vote BN' in Marudi, both of which appeared before nomination day.

It also pointed out that BN direct candidate Tiong Thai King distributed RM200 to 270 families under the Poor Student's Trust Funds (PSTF) initiative in Dudong, while a SUPP representative had reported to the Education Department about two teachers in Simanggang who were allegedly involved in the opposition's election campaign.

Bersih slammed this action, saying that even though the two teachers had denied their involvement, the report went against an individual's freedom to campaign.

It said Bersih observers also spotted a letter circulated to residents of the Kapit constituency, allegedly from Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi, offering "special assistance".

In the letter, the people were instructed to receive this assistance at the Dewan Masyarakat Melayu in Bluteh Kapit, at 7.30pm on April 26.

"The Election Commission (EC) is fully responsible to take action against these candidates who have violated the rules.

"At the same time, EC should also stay committed in ensuring these things do not happen again and that candidates do not violate electoral rules," Chin (photo) said.

In criticising the banning of activists and politicians from Sarawak, she said that while she understood it was out of the jurisdiction of the EC, it should advise the state government that such actions went against the basic principle of freedom to campaign.

The EC is not only responsible for the nominations, advanced voting and the day of the voting itself. Its job also included making sure the entire election went smoothly, without any fraud, by monitoring the entire campaign period, she added.

"With an allocation of RM136 million, EC should not be finding excuses to not practice fair and clean elections," Chin declared.

Suspiciously high numbers

Meanwhile, Malaysia Electoral Roll Analysis Project (Merap) researcher Lee Wee Tak revealed that in the third quarter of 2011, a suspiciously high number of people - 8,707 - had their voting status changed from "ordinary voter" to "joined army/police".

Out of that figure, 134 were recorded as advanced voters in Sarawak as of the fourth quarter of 2015, Lee said.

Not only that, a significant number of the 134 were of a dubious age to be joining the military, which has a recruitment age limit of 25, he said.

A total of 32 of them were 30 years old and above.

"One joined the army at 45 years old back then. That means he is 51 years old this year," Lee pointed out.

Lee also revealed that there were 88 spouses of advanced voters who were still registered as advanced voters, even after their spouses were no longer on the electoral roll.