Towards this end, it wants the Election Commission (EC) to be impartial and act against individuals and parties that violate election laws in the by-election.

Bersih also wants the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to monitor and act against anyone who buys votes, abuses government machinery or runs foul of related election laws.

In addition it wants candidates and parties to ensure the highest standards of election practices are followed.

In a statement today, Bersih said it would mobilise independent election observers to monitor the conduct of the by-election as it does not have full faith in the EC,.

“We call upon Malaysians, especially voters in Sungai Kandis to play a proactive role in protecting the integrity of our electoral process.”

This will be the first by-election under the new Pakatan Harapan government.

The Sungai Kandis by-election has been necessitated by the death of PKR assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafie on July 2 due to lymphatic cancer.

The EC has fixed nomination for July 21 and election for Aug 4.

Bersih said a high number of election offences and misconduct by the contesting parties and the EC in the 14th general election were recorded and reported.

However, to this date, it said, no EC member had taken responsibility for “their misconduct in managing the 14th general election, and six EC members remain in office”. It reiterated its call for the resignation of the six commissioners.

Bersih added: “We remain concerned over the integrity of the election process in the upcoming Sungai Kandis by-election.”

That is why its observers will keep a look out for election offences and problems such as bribery, vote buying, giving gifts, undue government handouts, use of government machinery in campaigning, excessive spending, lavish events, intimidation, violence, harassment, biased behaviour by public institutions, advance and postal voting problems, and electoral roll problems.