Malaysian Citizens Election Watch (MCEW) was formed by 42 non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) to avoid the repetition of " malpractices " detected in the Sabah state election.

Its Chairperson Puan Kamar Ainiah said MCEW was the product of some serious discussions among 42 NGO’s and its objective is to achieve a fair and free general election.

She told a forum organized by the Civil Rights Council (CRC) at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall that Malaysian Democratic and Human Rights Organization (BUDI – Badan Untuk Demokrasi & Insaniah – Organization For the Democracy and the People’s Rights) would act as the chief coordinator of the MCEW. She is the President of BUDI.

The NGO’s include: JUST WORLD, ALIRAN, ABIM, HAKAM, CRC, SUARAM and JIM.

According to Puan Kamar Ainiah, each NGO had been given a specific function: HAKAM – legal matters; ALIRAN – Monitor of English language and Malay news media during the campaign period; CRC to monitor Chinese language news media; ABIM – monitor the process of the polling day(s); JUST WORLD – public relations; SUARAM – Publicity; and JIM – complaints bureau.(ends)