Parties from both sides of the political divide will attend a workshop this Sunday held by elections watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel), which will announce its findings on the May 20 Sarawak state polls.

This is the first time that component parties of ruling Barisan Nasional coalition will sit with opposition parties in a meeting of this nature.

Mafrel chairperson Abdul Malek Hussin said that representatives from the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), and the Royal Malaysian Police will also be at the workshop, to be held in Kuala Lumpur.

"The workshop seeks to present Mafrel's observation findings, discuss recommendations and improve steps towards genuine, honest, free and fair elections in Malaysia," said Abdul Malek.

Some of the BN component parties were among the first to have confirmed their attendance for the workshop, said the Mafrel chief.

These include the United Sabah Party (PBS), United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), United Sabah People's Party (PBRS), and Umno.

"Even the Elections Commission, although it said it would not be able to attend, said it was eager to receive Mafrel's observation findings of the Sarawak elections and the recommendations that are forthcoming from the deliberations of the workshop," said Abdul Malek when met yesterday.

Irregularities in rolls

He said that a number of governmental departments, research organisations, academicians, and non-governmental organisations have confirmed their attendance.

Among the topics to be discussed at the workshop are problems related to the election processes, the system within which elections are held, as well as issues pertaining to the empowerment of voters, said Abdul Malek.

Mafrel, an independent poll watchdog, had complained of the existence of phantom voters and vote buying in the run-up to the state election. It also raised irregularities in the electoral rolls, much to the ire of the Election Commission .

In the May 20 election, opposition parties comprising the PKR, Sarawak National Party (Snap), the yet-to-be-registered MDC (Malaysian Dayak Congress) and DAP reached an unwritten pact to ensure a straight fight against the BN.

In the results that shocked even the opposition parties, the ruling coalition lost eight seats - six to DAP, one to Snap and one to PKR - plus one won by an independent candidate.