KUALA LUMPUR: Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 said Pakatan Harapan and Pas' candidates committed 10 election offences in the recently concluded Port Dickson parliamentary by-election.
Its executive director Yap Swee Seng said Bersih recorded the offences after monitoring the campaigning period, early voting, polling day and voting process.
He said of the total, Pakatan Harapan candidate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim committed six out of the 10 offences, while the rest were committed by Pas candidate Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar.
"Anwar made a surprise appearance at an awards ceremony for army veterans at Port Dickson's Army Museum on Oct 3 and was given VIP treatment but no other candidates were invited or accorded the same treatment.
"During the ceremony, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu indicated that the welfare of army veterans would be assured if the Port Dickson member of parliament was the prime minister. We feel that Anwar received special treatment compared to the other six candidates.
"Anwar also attended a zakat aid distribution event at Masjid Jamek Permatang Pasir together with the Negri Sembilan menteri besar and this has raised questions on the abuse of government machinery and created an unequal playing field for the other candidates.
"Anwar committed another offence when he launched a free online tuition portal known as pdtuition.com, which is connected to Perak state government-linked tuition portal ezlearn2u.com.
"This has raised questions on the abuse of Perak state government resources," Yap said during a press conference here today.
Yap said the PKR president-elect also campaigned at a free concert and two dinner events, and that it was unclear who paid for the events.
He said under Section 15A of the Election Offences Act, a candidate must record all expenses incurred during an event, and that a candidate's spending limit is RM200,000.
Yap said Nazari, meanwhile, committed four offences, including distributing televisions, home appliances, hampers and repeatedly organising free health checks during his campaign.
"Overall, the election process proceeded smoothly except for the existence of 'pondok panas' at all voting centres in Chuah, Linggi dan Sri Tanjung. According to the rules, such structures are not allowed.
"We also found that there were party supporters who wrongfully accompanied the candidates into the Port Dickson Vocation College and SK Port Dickson. Supporters were found within 50m of the college.
"Election observers were initially disallowed from entering the college but were later allowed in. Also, the wheelchairs at SK Kampung Sawah and Balai Raya Ladang Leong Hin San were not suited to the needs of the disabled voters there," he added.
Bersih 2.0, Yap said, recommended stricter enforcement of the law and more effective training sessions for election workers.
"Overall, the by-election went smoothly with some improvements by the Election Commission (EC)."
Yap said when independent candidate Kan Chee Yuen distributed free pens to voters, the EC reminded him that it was an offence.
The EC, he said, also reminded ministers to campaign outside of office hours and to ensure that no government assets were used.
Anwar won the Port Dickson by-election with a 23,560 majority despite a low voter turnout.
He secured 31,016 votes against his other contenders.