"Watch out!" Election fraud perpetrators were so warned by a new independent election watchdog as it prepares to monitor at least 18 constituencies in Sarawak's upcoming elections.

The Sarawak Election Watch (Sarel), the first of its kind in the state, was formed last October to serve as a coordination centre for complaints on fraud in the state's eighth elections which expects 868, 467 eligible voters to cast their ballot next Thursday.

However, officials at its headquarters in Kuching said that the list of areas to be observed had not been finalised yet as it might expand to other areas.

Explaining why the group was set up, Sarel spokesperson Nicholas Mujah said, "The people should be responsible and pro-active. Since the elections are held for us to decide who make up the government, we should also make every effort to safeguard the free conduct of these elections.

"Sarel was also formed because of past accusations of electoral fraud," Mujah added.

The group is self-funded and comprises 52 volunteers from various non-governmental organisations in Miri, Sibu, Belaga and Marudi.

It is also assisted by Budi, the Kuala Lumpur-based election watchdog which was responsible for monitoring the 1999 general elections.

"We have several well-known Sarawak NGOs such as the Borneo Research Institute, the Indigenous People's Development Centre, the Sarawak Community Co-operative Institute and Sepadu to assist us and their offices would serve as drop-off points for complaints," Mujah added.

Mujah, a volunteer himself, told malaysiakini that local and indigenous groups would also be assisting in observing the elections in the interiors.

Onus on complainant

Mujah said that complaints received would then be forwarded to the relevant authorities for action to be taken but the onus is largely on the complainant to follow it through.

"We have spoken to officials at the Elections Commission and they are very responsive to our pledge of assistance. But the Anti-Corruption Agency has not responded to us yet," Mujah said.

The ACA has set up two operation centres, in Sibu and Miri, to monitor the election. The state's ACA headquarters is in Kuching.

An ACA spokesperson later told malaysiakini that the agency welcomed any assistance from Mujah or any other NGOs although there has not been any complaints to work on so far.

Mujah added that Sarel will be training volunteers on how to spot electoral offences. Voters are also encouraged to pick up a copy of Sarel's election monitoring guide.

"Sarel will then compile the reports from both the rakyat and its official monitors into two reports - an interim one that will be released shortly after the elections are over and a final report to follow later.

"We hope that this will instil confidence in the people that the officials elected to form the new government were freely elected," Mujah added.

Last year, opposition parties alleged the existence of phantom voters in the Lunas by-election in Kedah.

On June 8, Sabah High Court judge Muhammad Kamil Awang declared the 1998 Likas electoral roll in Sabah as null and void as he was convinced of the presence of phantom voters paving the way for another by-election.