MAFREL - Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections

By MAFREL

MAFREL

2006-04-30 | Malaysians for Free and Fair ELections (MAFREL) is a non-partisan and non-profit organisation and aims to contribute to the democratization process especially in Malaysia. It seeks to advocate honest, orderly, peaceful, free and fair elections. It seeks to advance the development of electoral laws and regulations, so as to be in compliance of and comformity with international convenants and protocols.

It was formed on 18 October 2003 by a conference of Malaysian civil society activists after a deleberation on the necessity of initiating a domestic election monitoring effort for the 11th Malaysian General Elections. The conference unanimously adopted that MAFREL election monitoring efforts are to be based on Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

MAFREL initial plan for the 2004 Malaysian General Elections monitoring included verification of the electoral rolls, media monitoring, election campaign monitoring, polling, counting and tabulation monitoring. However due to limited resources and time constraints, MAFREL was unable to implement all planned activities. The limited work of MAFREL for the March 2004 Malaysian General Elections were electoral rolls verification by random sampling in three Parliamentary constitutions prior to the elections, media monitoring through its partner Malaysian Voters Union and quick tabulation of results in cooperation with Malaysiakini.com.

After the March 2004 Malaysian General Elections, MAFREL were invited and participated in international election observation missions in Sri Lanka, The Philipines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Thailand.

MAFREL objectives are:

- promotes democracy, good governance and human rights;

- advocates free and fair elections;

- pursues elections devoid of corruption, intimidation and violence;

- highlights violations and submits complaints

MAFREL's Terms of References are:

- to assess the extend to which elections conform with relevant international conventions, norms and standards of elections;

- to assess parties and candidates' access to the media and the level of civic education to make informed choices;

- to assess political freedom to campaign throughout the country;

- to determine the extend to which the electoral rolls are accessible and inclusive of all those who are eligible;

- to access the independence and impartiality of the Election Commission;

- to determine the security of the ballot papers and boxes;

- to assess the extend to which the secrecy of the ballots is guaranteed;

- Reconciliation, verification, counting and declaration of results;

MAFREL's election observation and monitoring strategy is based on the conviction that an election is not merely a periodical event but a process comprising of three phases, namely:

1. Pre-election phase;

2. During election; and

3. Post election phase.

All the three phases must be observed and monitored if a comprehensive assessment is to be made.

To all Sarawakians, and those who are in the position to assist and support, MAFREL is seeking your assistance and support to galvanize ground support for election observation of the 9th Sarawak State Assembly General Election. Nomination is on 9th May and the polling day is on 20th May.

Contact Mr. Abd Malek Hussin at malekhussin2000@yahoo.co.uk for further information and or assistance/support.