Below are the 30 recommendations from Malaysians Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) in their report on election observations of the recent Sarawak state legislative elections released today.

On Election System

1. Parliament is recommended to review the existing Westminster election system and effect change towards proportionate representation system.

2. Parliament is recommended to reinstate the election of local authority and local council.

3. Election Commission (EC) is recommended to set the date of nomination and election day of any election with a view of providing at least two weeks of election campaign period.

On Election Administration

4. The federal government is recommended to increase the budget of EC to ensure better administration and management on the conduct of elections in the country.

5. EC is recommended to establish a 'voter assistance and complaint unit' at all polling centres to address efficiently and act swiftly on stakeholders' complaints and problems on election day.

On Voter Registry

6. Parliament is recommended to review existing election-related laws governing voter registration and the electoral rolls to ensure that only qualified citizens register and vote in their place of permanent resident and to provide the EC with effective power to prevent dubious or fraudulent registration and update accuracy of the electoral rolls.

7. EC is recommended to conduct a re-registration exercise to address serious contamination, inaccuracy and irregularity of the electoral rolls.

8. EC is recommended to prepare and provide electoral rolls validated for any election with complete and unambiguous residential address of electors.

On Polling Process

9. EC is recommended to consider the introduction of 'elector's voting card' aims to further verify the qualification and polling information of a registered elector and to stop distribution of voting slips provided by any political party to voters.

10. EC is recommended to allow polling agents to check electors' identification card for verification purposes before polling.

11. EC is recommended to invite the national registration department personnel to provide authoritative and reliable cross-checking of electors' identity at every polling centre on election day.

12. EC is recommended to introduce inking of a voter's finger using indelible ink during voting to deter voter impersonation and multiple voting.

13. EC is recommended to introduce transparent ballot box to be used at every polling station during polling.

On Abuse of Public Resources

14. Parliament is recommended to review existing election-related laws governing utilisation of federal, state and local government resources to prohibit abuse, misuse or unrelated utilisation of public and administrative resources and to legislate punishment, without prejudice, in a swift and transparent manner any official or individual who abuse or misuse such resources for election campaign purposes.

On Corrupt Practices

15. Parliament is recommended to review related election laws to provide EC with power to prosecute violators of the Election Offences Act 1954 in an election court.

16. EC is recommended to strictly enforce prohibition on provision of food and refreshment outside polling centres as prohibited under the Election Offences Act 1954.

17. Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is recommended to actively monitor corrupt practices and electoral corruption and act swiftly without fear against such election violations and offences.

18. All political contestants are recommended to make public disclosure of campaign spending to include sources of electoral funding and expenditures.

19. EC is recommended to include a statutory declaration of assets by candidates as necessary qualification of candidature in any election.

20. EC is recommended to include gazetted election expenses statement of candidates in the official election report published by the EC after every election.

21. EC is recommended to ensure the establishment of the enforcement team or pasukan penguatkuasa kempen pilihan raya as provided for under Section 27B, Election Offences Act 1954, and to provide inclusion of the ACA in the enforcement team.

On Election Spending

22. The federal government is recommended to provide election grant to all contesting political parties based on apportionment of electoral support obtained in a previous general election in order to enhance multiparty democracy.

23. Parliament is recommended to amend Section 19(1), Election Offences Act 1954 to limit election expenses by candidates to three hundred thousand ringgit in the case on an election to the Dewan Rakyat and two hundred thousand ringgit in the case of an election to a legislative assembly.

On Media Coverage

24. Parliament is recommended to review existing broadcasting law governing publicly funded or state media to compel such media to undertake responsibility to ensure that voters receive sufficient, balanced information on the candidates and issues in order to enable voters to make an informed choice.

25. Parliament is recommended to amend relevant laws to empower the EC to take necessary action against biased coverage and unfair reporting by broadcasting stations and newspapers in a swift and transparent manner during elections.

26. EC is recommended to publish and distribute a 'media coverage code of conduct' aims to clarify role and responsibility of the media in providing sufficient, balanced reporting in any election.

On Postal Voting

27. Parliament is recommended to amend relevant election-related laws and regulations to abolish postal voting of the election process.

28. The EC is recommended to provide members of the armed forces and the police to vote similarly in line with any ordinary elector unless a credible and transparent manner of their voting process is in place such as provision for the presence of all-party observation to the process.

On Election Observation and Monitoring

29. EC is recommended to provide for the accreditation of international election observers and non-partisan domestic election observers to observe and monitor the electoral process throughout the elections.

30. Parliament is recommended to establish an independent Election Monitoring Commission or Suruhanjaya Pemantauan Pilihan Raya aims to monitor any breach or violation of election laws and election regulations during any election.