Election watchdog Bersih has unveiled seven major categories of election offences breached by both sides in the recently-concluded Sarawak polls.

The offences, observed by its 90-man Bersih Pemantau team, include bribery; unauthorised expenses during campaign period; intimidation; free food, drinks and prizes; organising campaign booths on polling day; ferrying of voters to the polling station and use of government machinery.

Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah slammed the Election Commission (EC) for not doing its job as the election gatekeeper properly.

"What is worrying is that these are not new things. It was done in every elections.

"Up to today, we are still having election offences being repeated on a much larger scale.

"But yet the EC (does) not open its mouth or even take action to stop the offences. I really feel that they are incompetent and failed badly in managing the election. This is only the state level," she told a press conference in Petaling Jaya this morning.

Maria reminded the EC to do a better job in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections which will be held on June 18, as announced by the commission today.

She added Bersih will compile all its observations in a report and present it to the EC and Sarawakians in one month's time.

"We will discuss the next course of action."

Pressed further, she did not rule out the possibility of legal action.

“We can only be a pressure group; we are looking into legal action but bear in mind we have lost most of our cases (against the EC).

The following are Bersih's preliminary observations on election offenses:

1. Bribery

Pemantau discovered BN distributing voting slips to voters in various constituencies, namely Telang Usan, Asajaya, Stakan, Kalaka, Tasik Biru and Batu Kitang. The slips - printed with a BN logo and carrying BN's headquarters address in Kuching - were exchanged for money, ranging from RM16 (Telang Usan) to RM70 (Kalaka).

A bantuan khas (special assistance) letter was discovered in Katibas while Tasik Biru voters confirmed they had received RM30 each from visiting BN party workers.

2. Unauthorised expenses during the campaigning

Bersih questioned whether federal government agencies hosting lush dinners to promote BN candidates were authorised within the RM100,000 expenditure cap.

Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem attended a 1,000-people dinner at five-star Pullman Hotel in Miri, which treated Mulu, Telang Usan and Ba'Kelalan voters.

Adenan also gave speech at a school dinner in Sibu to a 500-strong crowd for where he had campaigned for BN candidates for Dudong, Bawang Assan, Pelawan and Bukit Assek.

3. Voter intimidation

Tasik Biru: Federal Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz told local voters should they not vote for BN, no tourism would be promoted in their areas.

Pelawan: Voters were told they would not to enjoy development funds should BN fail to win.

Telang Usan: Tuai rumah were warned there would be no allocations for longhouses for opposition supporters.

4. Free food, drinks and prizes

Tasik Biru: All BN events provided free food and drink.

Bawang Assan: Lucky draw prizes awarded, including smartphones and hampers

Telang Usan: Five groups were given RM2,000 each for food while waiting for a BN candidate visit.

Beting Maro: PAS distributed cakes to the public.

5. Organising campaign booths (pondok panas) on polling day

Bawang Assan: DAP provided water to voters while BN provided water and food to voters.

Batu Kitang: PKR recorded voters' names in exchange for their party button. BN provided money after voting.

6. Ferrying voters to the polling station

Bawang Assan: BN provided RM20 travel allowance at a longhouse.

Miri: BN provided a RM1,400 travel allowance to four-wheel vehicle drivers ferrying voters to Telang Usan. Voters can claim RM200 transportation allowance to return to vote in Telang Usan.

7. Use of government machinery

BN candidates were observed using federal and state government property, brandings, logos and funds to campaign. For example:

Bawang Assan: BN candidate Wong Soon Koh used a government vehicle while campaigning.

Miri: Adenan used a government vehicle while campaigning.