Committee chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said this is one of the suggestions that his committee will eventually recommend to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to adopt.

Rashid, who is a former EC chairman, said the committee will need two years to finish its work.

He was commenting on Bersih chairman Thomas Fann’s suggestions, in its report published today on the recently-concluded Cameron Highlands by-election.

Among others, Fann had recommended that the EC be given more power to enforce election laws, including having the authority to fine candidates or those who commit offences during elections.

He cited Barisan Nasional’s (BN) distribution of free ice-cream at Pos Terisu and food in Kampung Belau, and PH candidate M Manogaran wearing a shirt with the coalition’s logo inside a polling centre.

“There is clearly a need to differentiate between minor and serious offences, which current legislation does not, and for the EC to be empowered to act against election offences,” Fann said in a statement.

Fann also said this can be done by “reforming” the Election Offences Act 1954 to enforce some of its provisions.

BN topped Bersih’s list of alleged election offences with 14 cases documented during the by-election campaign, followed by PH (five) and PAS (two). The two independent candidates did not commit any offence, Bersih said.

The 23 offences included providing “treats”, abuse of state resources, bribery and undue influence, inciting ill feelings on race and religion, and campaigning on polling day.