Which enforcement agency is in charge of looking into election offences – the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the Election Commission (EC)?

Electoral watchdog Bersih raised this question after it had tried several times to lodge reports with both the commissions on election offences that occurred during the 13th general election and the recent 11th Sarawak state polls.

The MACC and EC have denied responsibility for the matter, Bersih said.

"Yes, we have done that (lodged reports about the offences with the MACC) for GE13 as well as on the Sarawak state election.

"With MACC, it keeps saying that all these (cases of alleged) corruption (during the elections) don't fall under its scope," Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

She added that when Bersih tried to report the matter to the EC, the latter told the watchdog to refer it to the MACC.

MACC: We're not in charge of elections

The MACC told Bersih it did not have jurisdiction over this matter, she said.

"So who takes up all these cases?" she asked.

Maria pointed out that the EC was given wide powers related to elections under the Federal Constitution.

She said the problem was that when it came to (offences such as) "giving out cash and all that" (during elections), the EC would say it was not its problem.

Maria addded that these were all election offences, including bribery, (exercising) undue influence and (issuing) threats.

"But EC has not actually been taking responsibility (to deal with all these offences).

"Then when you go to the MACC, it says it has nothing to do with (these issues) because it is not in charge of elections.

"We are now saying that it's about time that you (MACC and EC) step up. Otherwise, you step out," she said.