About Us

National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI) of Malaysia began in 1999 as an informal group of like-minded activists for genuine democracy. Attempt to register the group as a formal organization was initially rejected by Malaysian authority. It took almost ten years that is in 2007, to get NIEI legally registered in Malaysia.

NIEI works to enhance development of democracy in Malaysia, especially areas related to election issues and problems. Thus, NIEI is active in monitoring election processes and program on voters’ awareness.

NIEI had monitored Malaysian General Elections in the years of 1999, 2004 and 2008.

In 2007 and 2008, NIEI is involved in voters’ education program for natives in the states of Sabah and Sarawak. This activity is about bringing awareness of rights of voters and making informed choices. The program is very popular among the natives and was frequently invited to conduct it in communities that were not in our target list.

NIEI under the umbrella of ANFREL participates as international election observers in Asian countries, NIEI had sent its observers to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Nepal,Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Aceh and The Philippines.

A substantial proportion of young population of Malaysia do not register as voters and many more do not participate in election, NIEI now is working among youth for their active participation in processes of Malaysian democracy.

The founding chairman of NIEI, Mr. Yunus Ali, passed away recently. The new chairman, Amin Iskandar has been appointed by the board members to lead NIEI. Currently, NIEI is in the restructuring process. The new team has decided to change NIEI name to the National Institute for Democracy and Electoral Integrity with the same acronym, NIEI.